Posted by Beth Noy
on September 04, 2026
There are some everyday products that we barely even think about when it comes to waste, and disposible pens have always been a big one for me.
Even before starting Plastic Freedom, I remember thinking about the sheer number of pens we get through in a lifetime. Think about all those years at school, packs of office pens, promotional biros, highlighters and the random pens rolling around in your car or hiding at the bottom of a bag. Eventually, almost every one of them ends up in the bin, and they're nearly always made from plastic.
That’s exactly why I fell in love with Tom’s Studio Pens.
Tom’s Studio has completely rethought the everyday pen, creating beautiful writing tools that you can keep, refill and use again and again. Their refillable pens arrive in plastic-free packaging, the ink can be refilled and even the nibs can be replaced or swapped depending on how you like to write, draw or highlight!
One beautiful pen instead of endless disposable ones? YES PLEASE.
So how do you find the right pen for you?
TOM'S STUDIO: THE WREN
If you're looking for a simple everyday writing pen without the disposable plastic, meet The Wren.
This is Tom's Studio's answer to the traditional fineliner, except instead of throwing the entire thing away when it runs out, EVERYTHING is replaceable and refillable! The ink, reservoir and even the Japanese-made writing tip can all be replaced, so this really is a pen designed to stay with you.
The Wren has a beautiful fine 0.3–0.5mm writing tip (depending on how much pressure you use), making it perfect for everyday notes, journaling, lists, doodles and anything else you'd usually reach for a fineliner for. It's made from anodised aluminium too, so it feels like a proper pen rather than another disposable bit of plastic.
And the refill system is SO GOOD. The Wren can be filled using standard fountain pen ink, opening up a whole world of colours rather than locking you into one specific disposable refill. One fill was tested by Tom's Studio to write continuously for 344 metres – around 50 A4 pages of handwriting!
It's compact too, measuring just 80mm when capped and 120mm with the cap posted on the end, so it's perfect for keeping in your bag or pencil case without taking up loads of space.
Oh, and did I mention it was named Writing Instrument of the Year 2025 at the London Stationery Awards?! 🏆
For me, The Wren is the one to choose if you want to replace your everyday disposable writing pens. Simple, beautiful, refillable and designed so that when one tiny component eventually wears out, you replace that part rather than throwing away the whole pen.
This is exactly how pens should have been designed in the first place!
TOM'S STUDIO: LUMOS PRO
The Tom’s Studio Lumos Pro is the ultimate everyday refillable pen and one of those products that makes you wonder why all pens aren't designed this way.
You can choose between three versions depending on how you like to use yours.
LUMOS PRO - SINGLE TIP
The Single Tip Lumos Pro gives you one nib with a larger ink reservoir which is perfect if you've found your favourite nib and want as much writing time as possible between refills.
LUMOS PRO DUO
Or go for the Duo Tip Lumos Pro, which is double-ended and allows you to have two different nibs ready to go at once. The ink reservoir is split into two, meaning you can even fill each side with a different colour!
So you could have a fine writing nib at one end and a marker at the other, two different line widths, or two completely different ink colours. Rather than carrying around a pencil case full of disposable pens, you can create the combination that actually works for you.
When your needs change, simply swap the nib.
LUMOS MINI
If you're the person who is always looking for a pen when you need one, there's a very easy solution; the Tom's Studio Lumos Mini will go everywhere with you!
Pair it with Lumos Loop Lid and you can attach it to your keys, bag, keychain or whatever you know is going to be with you every day.
It gives you all the benefits of the Lumos (interchangeable nibs, refillable ink and that gorgeous Tom’s Studio design) while making sure your pen is actually there when inspiration (or your shopping list) strikes!
TOM'S STUDIO: THE ORI
Highlighters are another stationery essential that we use for a relatively short amount of time before throwing the whole thing away.
In fact, more than 2.6 billion plastic highlighters have been made since 1971, with every single one ultimately destined to become waste.
The Tom’s Studio Ori Highlighter offers a completely different approach.
It pairs a smooth Japanese-made chisel tip with refillable, fluoro-bright ink to create a highlighter that's designed to stay with you for years rather than being thrown away when the ink runs dry.
Use it. Refill it. Keep going.
It's such a simple idea, but that's exactly what I love about Tom’s Studio. Instead of reinventing how we write, they've looked at the things that make conventional pens so wasteful and designed those problems out.
You can also get full replacement highlighter ink packs too!
TOM'S STUDIO: THE FIELD MOUSE
Say hello to The Field Mouse; your go-everywhere, write-anywhere, infinitely refillable sidekick. Hook it to your keys, your lanyard, or your bag, and you’ll never be caught scribble-less again.
Inspired by its folklore namesake, this tiny tool is made for moments when ideas strike and your usual pen is miles away.
Refill, Replace, Repeat
One of my favourite things about the Tom’s Studio range is that the pen itself isn't treated as disposable.
Run out of ink? Refill it.
Want a different colour? Change it.
Need a different nib? Swap it.
Worn your nib out? Replace the nib, not the entire pen.
It means you can build your perfect writing tool and continue adapting it rather than buying a completely new pen every time something runs out or your needs change.
And because they're so beautifully made, these are pens that you actually want to keep hold of.
