Recycled Colored Pencils vs Never Ending Bamboo Pencil: Which to Pick
By Fillgood | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Comparisons
Compare Recycled Colored Pencils and the Never Ending Bamboo Pencil on color range, longevity, and eco credentials to choose the right pencil for your needs.
Quick answer
Choose Recycled Colored Pencils if you need a range of colors for drawing, coloring, or kids' projects. Choose the Never Ending Bamboo Pencil if you want one long-lasting graphite pencil for everyday writing with minimal smudging.
Color range versus single-pencil longevity
The Recycled Colored Pencils come as a 12-pack, giving you multiple colors for shading, labeling, or creative work. The Never Ending Bamboo Pencil is a single writing tool designed for repeated use, so you trade color variety for long-term dependability.
If your work involves switching between colors, a set is essential. If you mainly write notes or draft ideas, one reliable pencil that doesn't need sharpening as often may suit you better.
Eco credentials: recycled versus bamboo
Both pencils address environmental concerns, but in different ways. The Recycled Colored Pencils use 100% recycled newspapers instead of virgin wood, directly reducing the need to cut down trees for pencil production. The Never Ending Bamboo Pencil uses bamboo, a fast-growing resource, and its alloy tip writes with minimal material loss.
Neither option is objectively 'better' for the planet without knowing your priorities: recycled content versus renewable material and reduced waste over time.
Writing feel and smudge resistance
The Never Ending Bamboo Pencil uses a special alloy that glides smoothly and resists smudging, so it's a good fit for left-handed writers or anyone who dislikes graphite smear. The Recycled Colored Pencils are traditional colored cores, which may smudge slightly more depending on pressure and paper.
If clean, smudge-free writing is your top priority, the bamboo pencil has the edge. If you need vibrant color laydown, the colored set is the practical choice.
Key trade-offs to weigh
- Color range: Recycled Colored Pencils give you 12 colors; the Never Ending Bamboo Pencil gives you one writing color. Pick based on whether your tasks are creative or functional. If you need more than one color, the colored set is the only option here.
- Longevity and maintenance: The Never Ending Bamboo Pencil is designed for extended use with minimal material loss, while colored pencils will need sharpening over time. Consider how often you want to replace or maintain your pencil. For a single pencil that lasts, choose bamboo; for a set you can sharpen, choose colored.
- Eco priority: Recycled Colored Pencils use recycled newspaper content; the Never Ending Bamboo Pencil uses bamboo and a low-waste alloy tip. Decide whether recycled material or renewable material plus reduced waste matters more to you. Both are eco-friendly, but they solve different environmental problems.
Product facts
- Never Ending Bamboo Pencil: The Never Ending Bamboo Pencil uses a special alloy tip that writes with minimal material loss and resists smudging. This makes it a low-maintenance option for everyday writing without sharpening or smearing.
Never Ending Bamboo Pencil - Recycled Colored Pencils: The Recycled Colored Pencils 12-pack is made from 100% recycled newspapers, reducing virgin wood use. You get a full color range with a lower environmental impact than wood-cased colored pencils.
Recycled Colored Pencils
Which should you choose?
Best for
- Artists and hobbyists who need multiple colors for drawing or coloring
- Parents buying a colored pencil set for kids' schoolwork or crafts
- Anyone looking for a recycled alternative to wood-cased colored pencils
Not for
- Writers who only need one reliable pencil for notes and drafts
- Left-handed writers who prioritize smudge-free writing
- People who prefer a pencil that never needs sharpening
