Writing pens made entirely from discarded plastic

Discarded plastic bottles are being reincarnated as writing pens by the Japanese company Pilot. 

The company’s Australian subsidiary has launched the range, called Begreen, which includes ballpoints, gel pens, whiteboard markers, mechanical pencils, correction tape and refills. All are made from at least 70 per cent recycled materials and sold in plastic-free packaging made from recyclable cardboard.

John Johnston, marketing manager at Pilot Pen Australia, says the Begreen products meet the same quality standard as the company’s traditional range, and Pilot has absorbed the additional cost of sourcing and processing the recycled materials used.

Consumers who opt for Begreen products over traditional pens in Pilot’s range are not only helping [revent plastic waste from going to landfill but the products’ packaging as well. 

“Our commitment to helping to reduce landfill is underpinned by the three guiding principles of ‘reduce’, ‘refill’ and ‘recycle’. Refills are available for most of our Begreen pens and markers to reduce plastic consumption and landfill. We are keen to encourage anyone buying a Pilot Pen to purchase refills at the same time to prolong its lifespan,” said Johnston.

One of the pens – B2P (Bottle to Pen) – is made entirely from recycled PET plastic bottles. One bottle can be converted into five pens. That pen has a barrel design that mimics the grooves and ridges of a plastic bottle – what Pilot describes as “a striking visual reminder of its origins and of the importance of recycling”. 

Pilot B2P comes in two varieties, gel and ballpoint and is available in Coles, Officeworks, Big W and independent retailers RRP $3.25 (ballpoint), $3.75 (gel). 

Pilot is Japan’s largest pen manufacturer, with subsidiaries throughout the world.