By CGTN Africa
The United Nations estimates that over 8 million trees are being cut down annually to produce wooden pencils that are used every day.
But environmentalists from Kenya-based Green Pencils Limited are determined to significantly decrease deforestation by manufacturing paper pencils.
The company has produced up to seven million pieces that are being circulated in the country as well as in international markets.
“You are cutting a tree that has a lifespan of 1,000 years plus, to make a product that would only last three or four months. And then we complain about climate change and talk about how we need to plant more trees,” says Antony Kirori, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Green Pencils Limited.
He adds that it makes more sense to recycle papers to produce pencils since newspapers have to be printed, children have to write on books, flour or sugar has to be packaged mostly in paper containers, and cartons are made from paper.
But the unique feature of these pencils is that they are 100 percent crafted from recycled newspapers.
After the collected papers are hardened and sculpted, they are dried before being sharpened, smoothened, cut to size, and laminated.
And apart from reducing waste buildup, the initiative has also created employment.
“Do you know that in the landfills, about 26 percent of the landfill waste is paper waste and paperboard waste? So why don’t we tap 5 or 10 percent of that waste in the landfill? Make sure it doesn’t reach the landfill. So that we can be able to convert it easily to wood and make pencils,” Kirori says.
According to Kirori, this will help not just to reduce the quantity of waste ending up in landfills, with associated transport costs. But also it will help preserve and protect mature trees that have taken many years to grow.
And of course, the company also provides jobs for Kenyan citizens.
“This work helps me”, says Green Pencils employee, Miriam Wangari. “I started six years ago, so for the past six years, I have been making these pencils. It has sustained me because I don’t lack anything, I’m educating my family and feeding them, and I cater to all my bills.”
The company is looking to increase its production of eco-friendly pencils.
It has recommended changes in policy at the business and regulatory levels that will help it achieve that.
It wants public and private institutions to make tenders more accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises in the hope that such changes will help attract and support the next generation of green innovators.
