When your promotional pens come to the end of their useful life as writing instruments, it can be tempting to just toss them in the bin and get a new one. However, as we are living in an age where reusing resources is of increasing importance, we decided to check out some tricks for getting used out of your custom pens long after their ink has dried up.

5 Ways to Upcycle Promotional Pens

So how do you reuse something like a promotional plastic pens? Here are some of our favourite ideas that are just a bit out of the ordinary.

1. Use Pens as Markers for Plants -- When you pop some new seeds into the ground it can be hard to know exactly where they are or what they are next time you come back to water them. Try removing the internal elements of your old pen and sticking the barrel in the ground beside your seeds. You'll remember the spot and, if you use different coloured pens for different seeds, you'll easily memorise which is which too.
2. Use as Small Garden Stakes -- While we're still in the garden, try this method for helping smaller seedlings grow. Remove the internal parts of the pen and stick the barrel beside your seedling to coax it to grow up the pen as a stake. This can help train your seedlings to grow a certain way and you didn't need to buy overpriced garden stakes to do it!
3. Spool Your Thread -- If gardening isn't your thing, perhaps sewing is. When you're in need of a spool for thread and you don't have anything else spare, grab an old promotional pen and wrap your thread around it instead. It will keep the thread in great condition and ready for use, plus it saves a pen from heading into the landfill, win-win!
4. Use as a Mini Sewing Case -- There's nothing worse than losing a button or dropping a hem during a busy work day. One way to always be prepared is to reuse an old pen as a mini custom sewing kit. Simply empty out the pen barrel and insert some threaded needles, safety pins, or thread and then tape it up for use in emergencies. Carry in a backpack or handbag and you'll always have help on hand for a sewing problem.
5. Use Old Pens as Cat Toys -- Transform a pen into a cat toy easily by first removing all small parts from the pen and all internal components. This is important because we want the pen to be safe for the cat to play with. Once your logo pen no longer has any loose parts or internal workings, you can toss it to your cat to bat around. If this doesn't do it for the cat, try running some string through the pen barrel and moving the pen around for them -- they'll love it.

If you still have pens that are unused or in excellent condition and wish to part with them, try donating to Got a Pen? and they will see that your pen finds a new home with a child in need.

Ideas first spotted here: https://homehacks.co/35-ways-to-use-old-pens-pencils/