The smartest place for old markers and pens​

Plastic waste, resource scarcity, and the growing volume of microplastics in our environment are challenges we all face. At edding, we recognise that plastic is part of our product design and how we handle used materials matters. As part of our product responsibility, we provide returnboxes for any brand of old and empty markers. These are available for companies, public institutions, schools and educational organisations. ​

It is really easy: Collect empty markers and pens in the edding returnbox – any brand is welcome. Once full, send the box off by using the free return label. ​

In a next step, the boxes are pre-sorted at the "Nordthüringer Werkstätten", a non-profit organization which offers people with a wide range of disabilities an engaging and meaningful workplace. In a final step, by transferring the pre-sorted content of the boxes to a specialised plastic recycling partner, we ensure that most of the recovered material can be reused – for example, in injection molding. More than 67% of the returned materials are recovered as secondary raw material.​

This initiative is about using resources more thoughtfully and keeping valuable materials in circulation. By including markers and writing instruments from other brands, we aim to make the recycling process as inclusive and effective as possible.​

Tip: Before a marker reaches the end of its life, we aim to make it last as long as possible. That’s why many edding products are designed with refill systems and replacement nibs – allowing up to 15 refills per marker. This helps reduce waste and conserve valuable resources by significantly extending the product’s lifespan. ​

This way, every marker – whether reused or recycled – contributes to reducing waste and preserving resources for a more responsible future.