Are we talking about cod psychology because shipping is in such a negative state? Good guess, and, yes, you might have thought the industry could do with some positive thinking right now. But it ain’t necessarily so, according to a former Maersk insider who is now boss of his own sustainable pencils company.

Sustainable pencils? What, who? New Zealander Michael Stausholm was originally trained by AP Moller-Maersk to work in shipping, but now runs Sprout, a company that makes plantable pencils and other recyclable products.

Sorry,