1GreenProduct

Ah, the humble pencil.

I haven’t used pencils much since high school when we were required to fill those little bubbles on standardized tests.

Off-topic, you know I think one of the best things I learned in high school was how to twirl a pencil with one hand. (Although I never reached Jedi-level pencil spinner, like this talented fellow. D’oh!)

Anyway, I’ve found that for certain tasks, such as learning a new language, it’s great to have a pencil’s invaluable write-and-erase capability.

But not just any pencil will suffice in these days of enlighted eco-mindedness. Not when you can the Ticonderoga Enviro Stiks   ™ made from ’sustained yield wood’.

We also like the fact that the pencils have a lacquer-free finish. Not only is the lack of lacquer (try saying that 10-times fast) better for the planet, but there’s something delightful about the feel of the smooth unvarnished wood.

When you’ve worn this pencil down to the tub, you can try removing the recyclable metal ferrule (the bit that holds the eraser to the pencil).

My mistakes have usually wiped out the eraser before I get to the end of the pencil, but if you have any eraser left over, it’s good to know that the eraser is environmentally degradable.

And as for the pencil’s attractive green lettering, Ticonderoga assures us the ink is certified as non-toxic.

(Does that mean all those pencils I chewed in school growing up were imprinted with toxic ink? It’s a miracle any of us ever made it to graduation!)

Where to buy:

Ticonderoga says you can buy the Enviro Stiks at Office Depot, but we couldn’t find the pencils on the Office Depot website. According to the manufacturer, you can also find Enviro Stiks at Fred Meyer, ShopKo and Meijer.

We found them online at ArtSuppliesOnline.com, John R. Green Company, Nasco Arts & Crafts, Paperchase Office Products (Canada) and similar retailers.