Odisha Girl's Plastic-Free Vision: Plant Pen & Pencil To Grow Plants At Home

Puri: Pen and pencils used to write so far can also carry seeds to contribute in increasing green footprints, is what a young girl has been championing for. Apart from ensuring that pens and pencils made by her are made up of biodegradable substances and not wood, plastic or polymer, a former student of Puri Convent has gone a step further in making these writing devices carry some seeds at the bottom to make sure these once planted in soil can breed more plants.

Over the past few months, the government has laid emphasis on the need to end the use of single-use plastic, which has become one of the major sources of pollution adversely impacting the already fragile ecological balance.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) annual report 2017-2018, approximately 8 million tons of plastic products are consumed every year, which means nearly 25940 tons of plastic waste is generated per day in India.

Doing exactly what is required from a responsible citizen, Basundhara Bhanjadeo has invented eco-friendly pens and papers with the help of waste paper. Interestingly, she has popped in seeds of marigold, spinach, coriander, tomato into the ferrule of the pens and pencils which when planted in soil grows into a plant, as claimed by her.

She says she came up with this eco-friendly innovation to create awareness among people about the harmful effects of plastic on human health and the need to build a green environment.

Speaking to OTV, Basundhara said, "Pens are 90 per cent plastic-free, while there is absolutely no content of wood or polymer in the pencils. These are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and when planted they tend to dissolve in the moist soil. The fag end of pens and pencils have seeds inserted, so it is advisable to plant these after use instead of throwing outside."

While the cost of a pencil is Rs 5, a pen costs only Rs 10.

She first established her makeshift stall near the same Convent School on VIP Road in Puri where she was once a student. And her idea of a plastic-free environment was also welcomed by all students and parents.

"With pollution level rising, such an initiative seems to be the need of the hour. This fantastic project needs a push as it will help in developing a plastic-free environment. If the message spreads, then nothing like it," said a parent.

An Alternative To Plastic: Vardhan Eco-friendly Plantable Pens & Pencils

When a pencil becomes shorter after use, plant it into the soil sideways and not straight. The pencil should not be planted deep into the soil. Place the pot under sunlight and water it regularly. The plant will grow in 7-10 days, claims Basundhara.

Needless to say, she has proved why we call Basundhara as the daughter of earth.

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