It was founded in 1945 by French aristocrat Marcel Bich and produces specifically disposable items; namely pens, stationery, lighters, and shaving razors.

[3] In 1942, Marcel Bich and his partner, Édouard Buffard, set up a business creating writing instrument parts in a factory in the Paris suburb of Clichy, where they began production of pen holders and pencil cases.

[5] In 1958, the takeover of the American Waterman Pen Company allowed BIC to establish itself in the United States while continuing its development in Africa and the Middle East.

It was advertised as a ready-to-use phone with one hour of communication and integrated SIM card and charged battery.

[22] In 2019 BIC inaugurated a new facility located in Nairobi, Kenya, which serves the East Africa region.

[27] That same year, Bic acquired Rocketbook, a smart reusable notebook brand in the U.S., in order to bring together analogue and digital writing.

[29] In May 2021, BIC launched an ad campaign featuring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg to promote their new EZ Reach lighter.

[32] Soon after, in August 2022, BIC also acquired Tattly, a company that produces high-quality temporary tattoos designed by artists.

[33] In 2023, BIC launched EasyRinse, a razor with the first-of-its-kind reverse blade design and patented anti-clog technology.

As a part of joining, one percent of annual sales from BIC ReVolution goes towards supporting environmental nonprofits.

[50] Bic sponsored a professional cycling team in the 1960s, led by Tour de France winners Jacques Anquetil and Luis Ocaña.

The rhomboid, which debuted in 1950 to coincide with the launch of the Bic Cristal, was originally red with white letters.

The Bic Boy is described on the corporation's website as "a schoolboy, with a head in the shape of a ball, holding a pen behind his back."

The schoolboy was designed by Raymond Savignac who also developed the product's "Nouvelle Bille" (new ballpoint) advertising campaign, which was intended to attract the attention of children.

When the Bic Boy was added to the left of the rhomboid one year later in 1961, both changed to the newly adopted official corporate colour of orange (Pantone 1235C).

[56][57] The Bic Cristal is exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Center Pompidou in Paris.

[58] In July 2021, Bic partnered with iconic French 19th-century department store La Samaritaine to create a limited-edition collection of products inspired by the façade for which it is famous.