The concept that of residing sustainably is a well-liked subject of debate within the nation. Many of us are consciously in quest of sustainable possible choices, recognising the have an effect on our movements have at the setting. This motion has impressed Indian innovators to increase answers we didn’t know existed. From toothbrushes and crockery to audio system and headphones, we have merchandise that get rid of the usage of plastic.
“It’s small steps at the a part of the patron that issues so much. I consider that if we give them the opposite, they are going to make a choice it,” says Saurabh H Mehta, the founding father of NOTE — a sustainable product corporate.
In a dialog with The Higher India, Saurabh unearths his not too long ago patented product — a biodegradable pen. Claiming to be one of the vital first manufacturers of a pen with 0 p.c plastic, the innovator takes us via his adventure.
‘I used to be mocked for my concept’
Hailing from Delhi, Saurabh to start with labored within the power sector. “I labored in rural spaces the place there used to be no electrical energy provide, seeking to attach them. Slowly, I realised that the issue used to be being solved and I had to shift to one thing else,” he says.
Realising that he sought after to be nearer to his circle of relatives, switching to take a look at his circle of relatives industry gave the impression of an inexpensive possibility. “My older brother has his personal industry and my father used to be at the verge of slowing shutting down the industry. I determined to take a look at my hand at it,” he says.
The circle of relatives industry used to be making ballpoint pens, he informs. When he joined the industry, he felt the pressing want for innovation within the trade. “I realised how 95 p.c of a pen is plastic and not using a use as opposed to conserving the ink. In an international the place on a regular basis persons are seeking to be extra eco-friendly, I realised that my middle would by no means permit me to do that,” he says.
Saurabh determined to take a sustainable option to making pens. “I assumed how exhausting may just it’s, proper? I have already got an current construction to paintings with,” he stocks.
“The trade used to be already moving in opposition to a use-and-throw disposable fashion through design and distinctive feature. All the trade embraced this disposable mindset. Once I joined in 2016, it took me only a few months, or at maximum a yr, to grasp that this wasn’t one thing I may just dedicate the following 10 or twenty years to. Given my dedication to environmental sustainability, I felt there used to be one thing severely mistaken with this method,” he notes.
Recalling the time when he introduced the theory to his circle of relatives, he says, “First of all, there used to be numerous scepticism. I used to be mocked for even considering it used to be imaginable, however as I improved with my analysis, my father came visiting. I determined to split myself from the circle of relatives industry and get started NOTE, which stands for No Offence To Earth, in 2018,” he says.
Made with bamboo, coconut shell and 0 plastic
“Whilst plastic straws, luggage, and bottles are broadly mentioned, pieces like pens are hardly discussed. On the other hand, the plastic waste from pens is really extensive, similar to 50 p.c of the plastic straw drawback. The loss of dialogue round this factor used to be hanging,” stocks Saurabh.
He provides, “I realised there have been no actual possible choices to plastic pens. Some efforts diminished the plastic content material through 50, 70, and even 88 p.c, however plastic used to be nonetheless provide. Checks confirmed that even pens with paper our bodies and plastic cores acted like laminated paper cups, fighting complete biodegradability.”
Saurabh stocks why you will need to make sustainable stationery. “The issue we confronted used to be that 95 p.c of a pen consists of non-biodegradable fabrics, essentially plastic and steel combos. Those plastics are ceaselessly differing kinds, reminiscent of PVC, and polycarbonate, each and every with other houses. The wear brought about through those fabrics is very important since the elements can’t be simply disassembled and recycled one after the other,” he informs.
“There’s no financial worth in recycling them, making it nearly not possible to recycle those pens. As a result, they received’t biodegrade for the following 300 years or extra. This amplifies the issue: with an annual manufacturing quantity of fifty billion pens, all of this plastic waste can’t be recycled and received’t biodegrade,” he reiterates.
In contrast to plastic bottles, pen plastics are problematic. Whilst PET bottle recycling charges aren’t easiest, they exist and are making improvements to. By contrast, there’s these days no efficient recycling answer for pen plastics.
“For this reason we invested important effort and time into discovering possible choices. We experimented with more than a few fabrics and tips on how to change plastic. Our answer comes to the use of recycled paper and vegetable oil. The vegetable oil acts as a barrier between the ink and the paper, offering the important capability with out depending on plastic, stocks Saurabh.
The frame of the pen is fabricated from bamboo and the cap is fabricated from coconut shell — this easy but efficient method has allowed him to create pens which might be each sustainable and practical.
Saurabh experimented from 2018 to 2020 earlier than in spite of everything narrowing down to 1 design. “We attempted more than a few tips on how to cut back and get rid of plastic in pens. We performed a large number of trials, each and every requiring intensive trying out for shelf lifestyles, which will have to be 18 months. Each and every take a look at took round six months to yield effects,” he says.
“In the end, in January this yr, we accomplished a leap forward. Our present approach lets in us to supply pens with an 18-month shelf lifestyles with out plastic. This marks an important milestone in our adventure towards sustainable stationery,” he stocks.
These days, the pens are to be had for bulk acquire through companies. Thus far, he has offered 20,000 pens and hopes to extend this quantity sooner or later.
Aditya Pratap Singh, who’s a sports activities skilled and a group member of Adolescence For Local weather India, used the biodegradable pen. “Being an atmosphere recommend, local weather exchange and plastic air pollution deeply worry me. I’ve a bag stuffed with refills of pens that I used. Whilst the issue turns out small, I used to be on the lookout for another. Once I discovered about Saurabh’s innovation, I used to be intrigued and acquired two pens from him,” he says.
“I simply opened one among them to look if there used to be actually 0 use of plastic. It used to be true, he used fabrics like bamboo and coconut shells however no plastic. The pen, to be exact, feels precisely like some other pen. You received’t even really feel a distinction,” he provides.
Saurabh informs that the cost of the pen these days begins from Rs 30 and is going as much as Rs 300. “On the other hand, I’m these days operating on making it to be had at aggressive costs as plastic-based pens to make it to be had to the loads,” he remarks.
“I consider that if there’s another to be had for folks to make use of, they are going to go for it. Whilst a pen may sound like a small factor, for those who take a look at the larger image, even small efforts topic,” he provides.
(Edited through Pranita Bhat; All Photographs Credit score: Saurabh)