Bambini is an ongoing column that features Bamboo’s favourite eco parenting ideas and products, for children of all ages.

Turns out the standard wood pencils kids know and love aren’t as eco-friendly as we might think.

Not only is wood cut, harvested and fired with clay powders to produce the writing utensils, the post-sharpening wood shavings aren’t even safe enough for the recycling box.

Our greener pencil pick? Greenciles (C$29.99 for 100 pencils). Pencils made from 100-percent used or discarded paper, Greenciles are completely recyclable (shavings, too), but they still look, feel and handle like conventional pencils.

Write on!