Although we are moving towards a paperless society, that dream is still a long ways off, and a lot of Bics are going to be employed before it arrives. The pens we take for granted sell for a hundred a dollar in bulk, and they’re worth every penny. They also get thrown away, and I’m guessing from the price that high recyclability and sustainability aren’t really primary goals of the Bic corporation. This DBA Pen is the other way round: it’s designed to be thrown away — but in a different way.
Here’s their little statement:
The DBA Pen is the only 98% biodegradable pen in the world. It’s also the only pen to use ink composed of simple, environmentally responsible ingredients. Produced at a wind-powered facility in the United States, it was designed as a responsible alternative to the wasteful and often toxic pens we use almost every day.
The only bits of the pen that aren’t compostable are the nib and nib holder, which they used noncompostable materials for in order to create a better writing experience. And there’s a catch: the pens won’t compost in landfills, only in dedicated compost facility. You can send the pens back to them and they’ll take care of it too.
The problem is that a price of 3 pens for $8, there’s no way these will be adopted in bulk. See, sustainability isn’t high on a lot of other corporations’ lists, period. Ah well. Small steps.
[via Gizmag]