My daughter really enjoys using a whiteboard to draw, practice spelling, play teacher to her teddies and other imaginary games, so I began looking for plastic free whiteboard markers to replace the dried-out old ones.

I know I could have told my daughter to use the blackboard and chalk or a piece of paper and pencil instead, but at the time, I felt like I was asking her to give up more things than she was ready for. So, a more eco friendly whiteboard marker is a great stepping stone to a less wasteful alternative when she is more mature and her interests change.

Friendly Whiteboard Markers

Some internet searching turned up these Swedish made Friendly Whiteboard Markers from online Australian store, Buy Eco Green. The body of the markers is made from recycled paper and wax instead of aluminium or plastic, but the ends and cap are still made from polypropylene. Nevertheless, that’s a 60% reduction of plastic used in making the product!

I ordered the box of 4 markers with colours black, blue, green, and red. After six months of use by my daughter a couple of the markers have dried-out, so I pulled them apart to have a good look.

Friendly Whiteboard Markers - 60% recycled paper

The recycled paper tubes would be a great addition to a box of craft supplies or an upcycling project because they are quite strong. After that, they could be recycled again or composted. Unfortunately the remaining plastic is not recyclable because the small size is not able to be picked up by factory sorting machines. You might be able to upcycle them though.

I’d love to hear in the comments if anyone has found other eco-friendly markers or knows of ways to extend their life. Would you give these markers a go?

17 thoughts

    1. Thanks Nola, I have not seen these before!! Have you used them?
      I’ve just had a quick scan and the idea seems awesome but I’m wondering how long the refill bottles would last for and how much plastic waste is actually reduced. I’ll will look more into them for sure.

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      1. I use these whiteboard pens in my classroom and find the refills to last really well, and I like the fact I don’t have to throw them away when they’re empty like conventional pens. You can also replace The tips if they wear out too!

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      2. That’s great Genevieve. Someone said on Facebook that the pens came in heaps of shrink wrap and other excess plastic so perhaps we need to feedback to Auspen that we’d prefer not to have that waste too.

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    1. Not sure if I will try the refillable ones (or order more of the others). My daughter’s starting to move more towards pen and paper now, and I don’t like having extra clutter around the place. It’s great to know they exist now though. Will you give them a try? 😊

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  3. I’m interested in refillable biros/markers. Officeworks sold some but the refills had to be ordered online, and even then, it wasn’t clear which product to buy. If anyone has experience of this, I’d be grateful for some tips.

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  4. The recycled paper tubes would be a great addition to a box of craft supplies or an upcycling project because they are quite strong. After that, they could be recycled again or composted. Unfortunately the remaining plastic is not recyclable because the small size is not able to be picked up by factory sorting machines. You might be able to upcycle them though.
    https://gippslandunwrapped.com/2017/07/20/recycled-paper-whiteboard-markers/

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  6. This is a fantastic idea!! I’m teacher and I go through a lot of markers. My students all have one handy for their own use, too. I don’t think I could replace their markers, as I think it would be cost prohibitive, but I’ll certainly look into the paper tube or refillable markers for myself. I wonder if there is also a similar option for regular (non-whiteboard) markers. We use a lot of those, too. I’ll have to have a look.

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  8. Pingback: Refillable Whiteboard Markers, Penfill Not Landfill – Gippsland Unwrapped
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