London Stationery Show Focusing on Sustainability; Here’s Why

Sustainability has been a growing trend and key focus in the stationery industry over recent years and has sparked an increase in innovative eco-friendly products from notebooks to giftwrap.

London Stationery Show chose to highlight this important issue with a brand-new Sustainability Matters feature taking center stage at the event. As the largest UK trade event dedicated to the paper and writing-instruments industry, it was important for the show to emphasize the alternative tools people can use in their everyday lives to affect positive change for the planet.

Both large-scale household names and independent businesses were involved in the feature with a wide variation of products available. The Pilot Pen Co. displayed their whole range of Begreen products, which includes pens, pencils, markers and erasers, spotlighting how easy it is to switch to sustainable everyday writing tools. Wrapuccino showcased their wide array of fabric wraps which encourage people to utilize a reusable alternative when gift wrapping, adding a fun aspect to gift-giving and showing that sustainability is not only about using recyclable materials but trying to prevent the cycle of disposable stationery altogether.

“The Sustainability Matters feature was hugely popular with both exhibitors and visitors,” said event director Alex Butler. “It was a pleasure to see such a wide array of eco-friendly products and it will be great to see how the industry continues to evolve in the future.”

Other brands that showcased products included: Anne Davison Studio, Frisk, Butterfly, Carioca, Dodo Pad, edding, Coffee Notes, ExaClair, Filofax & Letts of London, Giuseppe di Natale, Heinenko, Jakar, MT Displays, nu:notebooks, Okey Dokey Design, Once Upon A Tuesday, Paper Lounge, Papydo, Pentel, Perfect Planner Company, Pukka Pads, Railex, Sinclairs, Staedtler and Storigraphic.

As well as being able to peruse the eco-friendly displays, visitors were also encouraged to write their own sustainability pledge. This aimed to inspire people to commit to a more eco-conscious attitude and collectively move the industry in a direction of sustainability. Examples of these pledges included: “I pledge to only purchase notebooks that use recycled paper” and “I pledge to think carefully about what I recycle.”

The next London Stationery Show will run May 16-17, 2023 at the Business Design Centre.

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Lenise Willis is the editor in chief of Gifts & Decorative Accessories, which has been covering the gift, stationery and home industry since 1917. For more than five years, she’s covered retail best practices alongside product trends and ecommerce tips. Through market events, live panels and articles, she leads conversations concerning consumer research, trending gifts in a wide variety of categories and changes in the gift industry at large.