Even with the advent of the so-called paperless society, thanks to computers and the Internet, there are still many things, transactions and technologies that need the old-fashioned pen and paper to complete.  You have to sign documents ranging from credit card authorizations to formal contracts and everything else in between of various values.

Unfortunately, the use of pen and paper also has a negative environmental impact.  Since many articles have already been devoted to the impact of paper, let’s focus on the mighty pen.  It is mighty not only to effect change in societies through ideas put to paper but it can also change environments via waste filling up our landfills.

Consider the Statistics

In September 2005, Bic announced that it has sold its 100 billionth disposable pen.  If that boggles your mind, just think of the billions more of disposable ballpoint pens manufactured by other companies.  To place 100 billion in perspective, think of placing the pens end to end.  Now, imagine that the world is literally in your hands.  You will discover that the arranged pens can circle the globe 348 times!

And to think that Americans alone purchase a staggering 106 billion disposable ballpoint pens on an annual basis.  We shudder to think of just how many pens the world’s two most populous countries - China and India - spend on said pens.

Consider the Impact

In our society where the hunger for instant satisfaction is only matched by the need for instant disposal, pens are thrown away like so much trash just about anywhere.  Pens are thrown in drawers, in garbage bags and even by the wayside.  And we are not talking about used pens with zero ink in them because most full pens are disposed for no reason at all. Admit it - you have been guilty of such an act many times before and with no thought as to its environmental impact.

So, what is the environmental impact of our careless disposing of pens?  Well, think of it this way: The disposable pens will end up in landfills, waterways and in other unforeseen areas where a ticking time bomb will start counting down.  Keep in mind that pens are made from plastic that many of us know by now to be non-biodegradable.  This means that it will take hundreds of years for a single discarded pen to decompose.  Now, when you add 105 billion pens used and discarded per year from the American population alone, you are looking at polluted groundwater and soil.

Unfortunately, there are no known ways to recycle the discarded pens.  You can transform them into works of art but it will still be thrown away sooner or later.  And the cycle of environmental destruction continues - all because we love our disposable pens.  So, what is an environment-loving individual with a liking for pen and paper to do?  Well, you should shift to refillable pens.

With proper care, your refillable pen will last for many years to come in your hands.  Thus, you will not be adding to the waste in the landfills, not to mention that you can save on the cost of numerous pens bought over the years.  Now, that is what we call harnessing the power of the refillable pen for the benefit of the environment, in a manner of speaking.