Genious! A pencil case made of a sustainable material - and vegan-friendly too!

Cork comes from a renewable source (a tree), but the process doesn't involve cutting the tree down: only the bark is harvested, and the tree is left alone to carry on living. It's easily recycled, it's water-repellent, fire-resistant and a natural insulator. It's really quite astonishing stuff, and can be used to make a whole host of different products, from wine stoppers to shoe insoles to shuttlecocks.

And pencil cases, thanks to Clairefontaine. They're great for pens and pencils, of course, but they're equally good for things like make-up and toiletries, too. Oh, and they're vegan.

This one measures 160 x 50 x 60mm and you have a choice of designs.