These are no ordinary pencils. Zero-waste and made from 100% natural materials including sustainably harvested cedar wood, graphite and clay, these pencils sprout into bee-friendly flowers after use.
Use the pencils as usual and when they become too small to write with, flip them around and plant the plant-based green capsule into damp soil. On contact with water, the natural cellulose casing will start to dissolve, releasing seeds that grow into herbs and flowers that bees love, in just 1-2 weeks. You can also keep the plants and flowers indoors during winter.
Keep the pencil stub upright to use as a plant tag, or bury it into the soil and it will naturally and safely decompose and contribute to the soil.
Each pencil also comes engraved with a different inspiring bee quote that act as a reminder of how important bees are. The planet is better with bees in it. It’s a clever invention that recycles something old into something new, and gives back to the planet with no waste.
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Next Britain is a nation of gin lovers. So much so, we’re now drinking 75 million bottles of gin every year according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association – ten million extra bottles than we drank pre-pandemic. With summer G&T season in full swing, you’ve likely got some empty bottles in your recycling bin. And if you’re one of a growing number of people signed up to a monthly gin subscription, you’ll be throwing away many more. But did you know you could be missing out on some extra cash by not selling your finished gins on eBay, where thrifty buyers are waiting to snap them up for all sorts of upcycling, wedding and home décor projects? To find out which gin bottles could make you the most cashback, the data analysts at Lifestyle Packaging have found the average eBay resale price for 120 popular and craft gin bottles and compared this against their RRP. Top of the tipples is Mermaid Pink Gin, distilled in the Isle of Wight, with its stunning textured blush bottle. Retailing at a rather pricey £38, the average selling price on eBay for an empty bottle of this strawberry flavoured gin is £11.98, giving you 31% cashback per bottle – or even more: In second place is the world’s bestselling gin and home bar staple, Gordon’s London Dry Gin. Despite being one of the cheapest gins studied – retailing at £15.50 for 70cl – its price, nor its popularity, are putting people off from buying second-hand bottles. eBay sellers can make on average 30% of the RRP back per bottle (£4.65). The Eden Mill Golf Gin, with its striking green jacket reminiscent of the Masters Champions, comes in third place. A favourite of golf and gin fans alike, this decorative and unique bottle sells on average for £8.82 on eBay – that’s 29% of the £30 retail price. Mermaid Blue Gin can also be sold on eBay for 29% of its £38 retail price (£11.15 cashback on average). Like its pink cousin, this bottle is highly decorative with ombre blue glass scales. In fifth place is Whitley Neill Blood Orange Gin (RRP £26) with its eye-catching orange bottle mimicking the Mediterranean sun. On eBay, empty bottles of this refreshing citrus gin sell for on average £7.11 – or 27% cashback. Social media is driving the trend for upcycling and craft projects, with people looking for cheap and sustainable ways to improve their homes, decorate their wedding venues or create unique gifts. Crafty gin lovers are turning to TikTok and Pinterest for inspiration on how to upcycle empty bottles into decorative pieces, including lamps, diffusers, candles, terrariums, glassware, vases and much more. Australian-born influencer and home stylist Geneva Vanderzeil recently shared a hack for how to turn too-good-to-throw-away gin bottles into unique glassware and it’s already been liked 1.3 million times. And with more of us trying to find new ways to save money and limit our impact on the environment, it’s clear this craze won’t be over soon. Gin fans beware when your item sells on eBay, you pay 10% of the final transaction value, including taxes and postage, so consider grouping decorative bottles together in a single listing to save on fees. Remember to always wash out your gin bottles with warm soapy water before preparing them for delivery in protective packaging.
