Every material tells a story. Some begin in fields or laboratories, others deep in the earth. What matters is not just where they come from, but what happens to them over time. How they’re used, how long they last, whether they’re repaired, refilled, recycled or replaced, and how honestly they speak through design. These are the materials that our writing instruments are made of, and why that makes a difference.
Let’s start with aluminium. Light, strong and resistant to corrosion, aluminium has been used everywhere from bicycle frames to icons of Swiss design. It can be recycled again and again without losing quality, while using only a fraction of the energy required to produce it from raw ore. And it’s the material behind our two featured innovations for 2026, the MS8 metal pen and the MC01 Connector.
Biopolymers like PLA and PHA follow a different logic. Made from renewable raw materials certified “OK biobased” by TÜV Austria, an independent international testing and certification body, these biopolymers are engineered to behave like conventional plastics, with clearly defined end-of-life pathways. PLA is the material behind the DS3 Biotic, the refresh of our best-selling classic, while PHA can be found in our True Biotic pens.
Mineral- and shell-enriched compounds change perception through weight and texture. By combining finely ground minerals or lime derived from seashells with ABS plastic, these materials add substance and a distinctive feel. The result is noticeably heavier in the hand. Stone is a material option available for our QS01, QS20 and QS50 models, while our DS5 metal clip writing instrument is available in a Shell option.
ABS plastic itself remains a workhorse material: durable, formable, reliable – and regeneratable. In fact, at Prodir, we minimize material loss by integrating ABS plastic regenerated from our own production waste wherever appropriate. Coloured casings include
a high proportion of regenerated ABS, while black and white casings can be produced
entirely with it. Design choices can also reduce material use further – from more compact formats to casings that require significantly less plastic.
This is what we mean by material difference. Not a single material, but a way of choosing and using materials honestly – according to how they feel, how they last, and how credibly they enable brands to express what makes them who they are.