Sustainable Stationery

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Graduate launches new range of eco-friendly stationery

Green Week is in full flow at BSU and we’re taking the time to reflect on how the University is championing sustainability across our range of staff, students and alumni.

One such alumni, Bath Spa University graduate Natalie Willetts, is revolutionising the world of stationery with her range of plantable pens, pencils and notebooks.

After graduating in 2011, Natalie spent the next 10 years forging her career in marketing before launching her own company in 2020. Mercharoo was founded during the Covid pandemic with Happy Aardvark, Mercharoo’s own brand of sustainable stationery, arriving in recent months.

Speaking about her career journey, Natalie said:

"I studied a BA in English Literature and History and the variety of study offered from my course opened up so many different career paths for me. After initially considering teaching, I used my adaptable skills from my course to build a career in marketing. My time at University along with my career gave me the confidence to take the leap and set-up Mercharoo in 2020, during the Covid pandemic. I spent the first few years building and perfecting the brand, and since 2022 we have gone from strength to strength, now with a team of 3, working with household names, such as Rustlers burgers, Ritter Sport Chocolate UK, Avis & Budget Group and Dell Technologies to name a few.”

Sustainability is a core value we hold at BSU and Natalie has adopted this in her own career, with Happy Aardvark’s eco-friendly stationery range helping to tackle climate change.

Speaking about the importance of sustainability in her craft, Natalie said:

“It's always been a focus to build a brand with sustainability at its heart; the last couple of years, we’ve been on a mission to find and promote products that have a real purpose, hence our plantable stationery range was born.

The pens house a range of plantable seed capsules at their base. Once the ink runs dry, simply plant it, water it and watch it sprout! It’s perfect for eco-conscious businesses, schools, and events. Our plantable pens offer a tangible way for organisations to promote both brand awareness and environmental stewardship, in a merchandise industry that has traditionally struggled to champion sustainability. Our sustainable range is just one way we are supporting customers to reinvigorate their brand for a profitable and sustainable future”

To mark Earth Day, Mercharoo are sharing the sustainable love, with their range of plantable pens and pencils currently available for £1 until the end of April 2024.