But those were different times. We had never heard of climate youth. The classic bazaars of that era offered no solace. That's why I cycled to the Oxfam World Shop in the center of Heist-op-den-Berg on Saturday mornings. There I could stock up on recycled paper. It stayed that way for a while. Little did I know that many more sustainable products existed. Yes, even back then.

My 'aha!' moment came in 1996, at an environmental festival in Germany. I was there as a volunteer. There was a beautiful selection of recycled paper products: notebooks, notepads, and folders. I felt that these should also be available in our country. And preferably many more sustainable products. A fun fact: this German brand is still part of our product range today.

I collected 100,000 Belgian Francs and started Ecobos.

It started small, however. A 12-square-meter shop in my brother and sister-in-law's garage. However, the range of environmentally friendly products was extensive from the start, with over 200 items. My company was called Pangaea then, by the way.

After two years, the garage became too small. I moved to Herentals, to an old factory building. In 2002, we moved to our current, ecological location in Heist-op-den-Berg. Our assortment grew more and more, to no less than 5,000 products from numerous environmentally friendly brands. Consistently made with respect for both the environment and people.

Together we highlight your commitment to nature.

Are you a company, organization, or government agency looking for ecological items? We are happy to assist you. For promotional material, office supplies, and paper goods, we have alternative, sustainable products. Without compromising on their quality. And there are also many fun and original items among them.

Our range of the most sustainable products is now very extensive. This way you can contribute to nature in all sorts of ways:

Greeting cards, (writing) paper, notepads and notebooks, envelopes and labels, folders, wrapping paper, gift wrap and craft paper, pencils and erasers, sharpeners and rulers, ballpoint and fountain pens, including refills and ink, other desk accessories, bags and totes, ecological gifts such as wooden toys.

Moreover, we can personalize most environmentally friendly products for you. Do you want the logo of your municipality on tote bags? Would you like to give pencils with your slogan to potential customers? Or are you looking for an ecological trophy for your employee of the month? Contact us for a tailor-made quote.

However, anyone can claim to sell sustainable products.

That's why we do things differently at Ecobos. Before a product from one of the sustainable brands enters our assortment, it must meet strict criteria. To start with, everything must of course be made with respect for nature. Labels and logos are a crucial guarantee in this regard. Most of our environmentally friendly products are therefore explicitly approved by one or more leading organizations. Think of FSC, PEFC, Fairtrade, GOTS, Der Blauer Engels, or Groene Knoop.

But it doesn't stop there. Just as important as the impact on the environment are the working conditions in the production of sustainable products. At Ecobos, you know that everything is made in healthy and safe conditions. Workers are not exploited and receive a fair price for their work.

This way, we know the origin of the products perfectly. Moreover, almost everything is made in Europe. This way, we limit emissions during transport. We have wood products made from local wood species from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The recycled paper and writing materials mainly come from the Benelux, Germany, and Italy. Furthermore, everything is delivered directly to us from the manufacturer. And everything can be fully recycled at the end of its life cycle.

We are proud members of FSC, PEFC, and The SHIFT

At Ecobos, we actively contribute to a sustainable future. As a member of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), we support responsible forest management worldwide. Both organizations are committed to economic, social, and ecological sustainability. Their labels guarantee that wood and wood products come from responsibly managed forests.

Additionally, we are affiliated with The Shift, a Belgian network that promotes sustainable development. Together with our partners, we work on fair trade and sustainable solutions. This perfectly aligns with our mission and vision.

The Ecobos Mission

"Caring for the earth and its inhabitants is our MISSION."

We believe that a better world starts with positive action.

Doing good things and taking small steps to achieve great goals.

It started with a few notepads in the World Shop. And it led to the sale of thousands of ecological items. But the work is not yet finished. Together with you, we want to move a lot more stones in the river in the coming years.

Ecobos: Good for you and nature too!