Made of biodegradable plastic, natural fibres and edible ink, Scribit Pen aims to tackle plastic pollution in the art supply industry
Designed to promote a transition towards sustainability and circularity, Scribit Pen is billed as the world’s first compostable marker pen. Targeted at an industry that sends over 35 billion plastic markers to landfill every year, CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati designed the Scribit Pen to addresses the growing issue of plastic pollution.
The (weirdly cigar-looking) pen itself was designed for use by Scribit – a drawing robot Ratti launched in 2018 following a successful crowdfunding campaign that uses markers to draw on any vertical surface – but can also be used manually.
‘We are proud of Scribit’s success, and how it has empowered thousands of people around the world to change the way they draw,’ says Ratti. ‘However we were troubled by the amount of plastic produced by the markers that the robot uses.’
He adds: ‘By developing the new Scribit Pen, we can turn one of humankind’s primordial acts – drawing – into a fully sustainable one.’
The barrel of Scribit Pen is composed of biodegradable plastic, but is also available in wood. The nibs and cartridges are made of natural fibres and the water-based Super Washable Ink is non-toxic (and even certified as edible). Replaceable internal components mean the pen can be used indefinitely.
The Scribit Pen is still under development and is thought to be a sustainable approach to production and consumption issues, aspiring to replace the ‘take-make-waste’ linear model that is ever-present. The project follows CRA’s ongoing research into circularity in product design and architecture.
