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arts, Ballpoint pen, Environment, Fountain pen, India, Mont Blanc, Office Products, Shopping, Supplies, Writing Instruments
Recently my company gifted its employees personalized ballpens in an elegant case marking the 5th anniversary of the firm. Immediately I recalled the famous remark from the movie “Three Idiots”, when the professor proudly narrates the invention story behind the ball pen and our protagonist from the film could not resist asking, “Why did the astronauts not use a pencil, and went all the way to invent the ball pen as an answer to the fountain pens?” – It was indeed a very interesting point he raised, as it directly coincides with the line of thought preached, followed, and praised in today’s world. Nevertheless, let’s keep that aside for now, and return to the story, so the next moment I stood saying to myself, Oh no, not a ball pen please. I have stopped using ball pens completely since a few months, and possessing one now intrigued me to peek into the intricacies of the modern disposable pen.
The disposable ball pen is formed of either plastic or metal. The body plastic is mainly hardened plastic or different varieties of metals. The refill though a plastic is more elastic in nature and the ballpoint is made up from brass metal or like-wise.
As tiny and innocuous as it may seem, the present day “Pen” or the “Ball Pen” surely possess enough power to kill. If we safely consider alone India’s estimated usage of pens, it stands around 1500-2500 million pens per year, out of which 70% account for ball pens. On an average a person ends up consuming a dozen pens an year. Multiply it over a lifetime and extend it to number of literates in India and world over. It would sky-rocket.
These disposable pen are used and discarded, sometimes when the ink is exhausted and at times when they still have life, but out of habit, convenience and carelessness the used/unused pen are thrown everywhere from office desk drawers, garbage bags, sideways etc . Once thrown, its recycling is a lesser-known truth due to the varieties in its composition, from tiny pieces of metals, different types of plastics that requires distinct processes of recycling depending on the nature of the material and type, this eventually makes it economical unviable. The ultimate destination of this cheap and convenient commodity is again landfills and eventual pollution of Earth matter.
Alternates to these pens are huge and one can consciously examine his/her usage and make the change. Pencils, Fountain pens, buying refills for pens and not discarding pens that can be refilled. Importantly valuing the cheap valuable, you will be surprised to know but fountain pens can last generations. The nibs almost never wear out when used normally during a person’s lifetime. I have a silver color 8-year-old fountain pen, still running and now I plan to make it history 
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Hi
That was an eye-opener…I am one who loses ball pens very easily…A fountain pen has its own charm…Guess should start using one soon….
we all do. being a little careful in our our acts has its own impacts, and when it comes to any disposable always follow: Refuse, Avoid, Reuse, ………………Recycle.
All the best with your battle with the pen
Good one..Infact i never used a ball pen and still using the very same fountain pen which my father presented me with..
Thanks Sriram, Wow! thats truly amazing !
good thought! I too had a similar thought but never was keen about presenting to people…
good you penned it! on a funny note – i avoid keeping pens! incase if i need, i prefer to borrow for a minute… 
Thanks Jkhona,
Seems we share something in common, i end up doing that many times.
wonderful observation. even I had thought once about the enormous waste that we create just out of ball point pens.. we must encourage the use of fountain pens
Thanks Indranil,
Its very important in check wasteful habit, after all isn’t it better that we leave the earth more greener, fresher, merrier than what we received from our parents. From that point even the pen matters.
Interesting observations and a good read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hurray for the fountain pens!
Thanks Gurpreet !
Honestly, i never thought about it. This post was a real eye-opener and hugelyyyyy immenselyy informative! Can’t thank you enough for sharing this info..
Hey Monita, pleased to know that you liked it, yeah most of the times we overlook what major role little things play.
Oh! a nice thought provoking idea!. I use a lot of pencil too, but now I intend using alternative stuff. Thanks
I am pleased to know
Good post! I had never given this a thought. Come to think of it now, it would be food to avoid pencils too unless you are sure you can use those that are not made from trees!
Oops …typo… I meant “good” not “food”
Hey Meghna
Can you share the alternate to the wooden pencil. I happen to use them regularly, but as you said we can still replace them with non-wooden pencils. What are the options I can purchase?
My uncle gifted me a pen as a graduation gist (I made a post out of it only few months ago). Pen is a metaphor to so many things, unfortunately, the significance is declining in this digital era. I am glad your employer gave this thoughtful gift!
Thats special !
Yes the thought was appreciative, just that the pack and parcel raises some questions about the new pens in the market.