7 years...

My mate Ang got me this.  It's not a new invention but it's definitely a smart concept, Seltzer's 7 Year Pen.  It's sold as sustainable but it doesn't look green nor does it look recycled, and if we were quick to judge, the pen seems more a novelty than sustainable.  But when given greater thought, it's actually quite ingenious!  You see what I realized, we as people have become accustomed to the everlasting supply of pens.  Whether we use and/or "borrow" them from work or they're given to us as promotional gifts, pens are freely available, so much so when we lose a pen it's no sweat off our backs.  

So here enters the 7 year pen and this is how the game plays out:

First the question, "Really? This pen will last 7 years?"  

Next comes the challenge, "I'm going to test this claim".  

And finally "excuse me, do mind if I grab my pen back", after lending the pen. 

What's happen is, I am now more cautious when I use/lend my 7 Year Pen.  I also make sure I always carry this particular pen with me to ensure it gets it's full 7 year use.  This change in behaviour is quite astonishing as these thoughts and actions would not have come about had it not been for the composition of four little words "the Seven Year Pen".

Conclusion.  All I really need is one pen.  While some may argue that a pen doesn't take up much space, and what harm could a little pen do, the bigger picture is imagine multiplying this with the number of pens discarded daily on a global scale.  Each year, an estimated 100 million pens are discarded every day.  And imagine those that go to landfill.  And imagine to keep up with the illusory demand for low cost pens, the type of workers who make them (sweatshop labour comes to mind).

Wow, who would have thought a novel idea such as the 7 Year Pen could have such a positive effect on the world?   

Guess this simply shows the importance of innovative communication strategies when it comes to addressing conscious consumption and a sustainable future. 

Seltzer's 7 Year Pen reduces waste by increasing the size of the ink supply inside the pen. The jumbo ink cartridge fills more of the barrel's circumference, enabling the writer to pontificate a remarkable 1.7 meters a day for seven years.

"Regardless of the uber-efficient technology, we knew it would be equally important to design the Seven Year Pens in such a way you'd actually want to keep them for seven years. Our designers went to work, turning "regular" pens into "favorite" pens. We started calling them the Seven Year Pen so everyone would know it was designed with a purpose."

Seltzer Goods is a company that uses FSC certified 100% post-consumer recycled paper and veggie-based inks.  They are "serious about eco-friendly materials, packaging, and production methods".  They also support Earth Justice with an annual donation.  "Earth Justice uses the power of the law to protect our natural resources and defend the right of all people to a healthy environment."