Ethical Dupes
11 ethical dupes for Caran d’Ache 849 Ecodesign Ballpoint Pen – Heirloom Edition
Same kind of product · Comparable ethics score · Same or lower price tier · Office & Stationery. Picked from our independently scored catalogue.
Caran d’Ache
Caran d’Ache 849 Ecodesign Ballpoint Pen – Heirloom EditionOriginal: $$$ · ethics 82/100
The picks
Sorted by ethics score. Each card shows the difference from the original.
A popular, high-volume alternative to plastic pens, made from meadow grass and BPA-free plastic, featuring a safe, non-toxic ink formula.
High-quality, refillable pens made from recycled ocean-bound plastic. Designed by a woman-owned B Corp focused on zero-waste office supplies.
A refillable ballpoint pen made from meadow grass and recycled plastic, manufactured in a factory powered by biogas.
A sustainable writing instrument featuring a barrel made from renewable bamboo and recycled plastic components, offering a biodegradable alternative to plastic pens.
A high-performance, refillable aluminum pen designed to last a lifetime and reduce the billions of plastic pens discarded annually.
Sustainable ballpoint pens featuring a barrel made from renewable bamboo and recycled plastic components, offering a low-impact writing experience.
Sustainable ballpoint pens crafted with biodegradable bamboo barrels and recycled plastic components, offering a low-impact alternative to plastic disposables.
A stylish and functional alternative to disposable plastic pens, featuring a barrel made from sustainable bamboo and recycled components.
Onyx & Green's bamboo pens offer a renewable alternative to the ubiquitous plastic ballpoint. By utilizing fast-growing bamboo for the barrel and minimizing plastic components, they provide a stylish, low-impact writing instrument.
Sustainable ballpoint pens crafted from 76% post-consumer recycled plastic, offering a low-impact solution for everyday writing needs.
An upcycled bolt-action pen made from pre-consumer recycled brass, offering a premium writing experience with a second-hand/resale ethos. The brand partners with certified recycling facilities and offsets carbon emissions, making it a low-waste 'investment piece' perfect for an Airbnb host's welcome desk.
Side by side
Certifications are as recorded on each listing; check the scheme's own directory for current scope.
| Product | Price tier | Ethics score | Certifications the original lacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caran d’Ache 849 Ecodesign Ballpoint Pen – Heirloom EditionCaran d’Ache · original | $$$ | 82/100 | — |
| Natural Grass Pen Set (Subscribe & Save)A Good Company | $$ | 96/100 | B Corp, Vegan |
| Coastal Recycled Ocean Plastic Retractable PensWisdom Supply Co. | $ | 89/100 | B Corp, 1% for the Planet, Global Recycled Standard |
| Natural Grass PenA Good Company | $ | 88/100 | B Corp, Vegan |
| Onyx and Green Bamboo Retractable PensOnyx and Green | $$ | 88/100 | Vegan, PETA Approved |
| The Everyday PenBaronfig | $$$ | 87/100 | B Corp, 1% for the Planet |
| Onyx and Green Bamboo Retractable Pens (2-Pack)Onyx and Green | $ | 82/100 | PETA Approved |
| Bamboo Retractable Pens (Pack of 10)Onyx and Green | $$ | 79/100 | Cruelty-Free, Global Recycled Standard |
| B Corp Certified Onyx and Green Retractable Bamboo PensOnyx and Green | $$ | 79/100 | B Corp |
| Eco-Friendly Onyx & Blue Bamboo Retractable PensOnyx and Green | $$ | 78/100 | PETA Approved |
| Eco-Friendly Recycled Plastic Retractable PensOnyx and Green | $ | 78/100 | Global Recycled Standard |
| Refyne EP1 Bolt-Action Recycled Brass Pen – Second Life EditionRefyne | $$$ | 78/100 | Vegan, Cruelty-Free, 1% for the Planet |
Same kind of product
A dupe must be the same type of item as the original — soap for soap, a carry-on for a carry-on — from a different brand in the same category.
Comparable ethics
Its EthiCompare ethics score can be at most 5 points below the original's. Most picks match or beat it; the difference is shown under each card.
No pricier
It sits in the same or a lower price tier. Tiers are approximate bands, so check the retailer for today's price and size before comparing value.
Before you buy
Start with suitability, then compare the evidence. These checks are questions to investigate, not promises that every product in this ranking meets them.
- For paper, check the specific recycled-content or forestry claim rather than treating all green packaging as equivalent.
- Compare refill compatibility for pens and printer supplies before choosing reusable designs.
- For electronics and desk accessories, check repairability and avoid buying a replacement solely for a sustainability label.
What the ranking does—and does not—tell you
The ethics score is a comparison of the information recorded in our catalogue, not a customer star rating, safety test or complete lifecycle assessment. Check the individual product's sources, certificate scope and current retailer details before deciding.
Scoring methodology →