Day 89 – As a kid, I remember referring to the point of the pencil, as pencil lead. Little did I know that pencils have never contained lead and have always been made of graphite. The term “pencil lead” came from the historic association with the stylus made of lead in ancient Roman times.
The graphite pencil was definitely a wiser choice than the lead stylus used by the Romans. However, we could do even better when it comes to the pencil.
Did you know that one tree makes about 170,000 pencils? – Source Earth911
Did you also know that about 82,000 trees are cut down every year to produce pencils? – Source Earth911
That’s a lot of trees and a lot of pencils. Thankfully, there are some pretty cool options that are a bit friendlier.
The brands mentioned here are only examples. There are many varieties.
- Recycled Paper Pencils – These pencils are made from torn strips of recycled paper, making them completely tree-free.
- Sprout Pencils – These pencils come from sustainably harvested wood, which means that every time a tree is harvested, another one is planted. Each pencil comes with a seed capsule. So, when the pencil gets to short to use, you can plant it. Capsules contain herbs, flowers or vegetables.
- Recycled Wood Pencil – Wood scraps are recycled and joined together to make new pencils. Pencils are made with 53% pre-consumer recycled wood.
- Plantable Recyclable Paper Pencils – These pencils are made from recycled newspaper and have seed capsules. So, they can be planted when they can longer be used.
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Pencil Day then to get out and pick up yourself a pack of Earth friendly pencils.
Tomorrow, celebrating colorful sticks of wax that have brought enjoyment to the young and the old.
365 Ways to Save the Planet 