The pencils are made with 100% old newspaper, no trees were harmed to make these. It also helps in serving a larger purpose and that is saving the environment from Global warming by limiting your use of wood which will save thousands upon cut-down or deforestation as well as limit natural resources being used up quicker than they should be because we humans just don't know how too take care of ourselves sometimes... These wonderful creatures can serve two main purposes: one being an educational tool for children who need hands-on experience seeing where all their materials come from (trees) another way would be gift-giving; especially corporate giveaways! The Better Earthlings have a team dedicated to reducing waste in your premises. They make sure the little that is generated reaches its destination, and always do our best for you! They provide various products online such as recycled paper pencils, cheapest eco-friendly bags, cotton canvas tote bags, and many more.