did you know that approximately 35 billion plastic markers end up in landfills annually? to give you a better understanding, this amount could cover the entire island of manhattan more than 11 times. addressing this issue, international design and innovation company carlo ratti associati has unveiled the world’s first fully compostable marker — the scribit pen. made of natural fibers and filled with water-based, non-toxic, edible ink, the pen aims to promote a transition towards sustainability and circularity.

scribit pen by carlo ratti is the world's first compostable marker

 

 

designed by carlo ratti associati for scribit (see more of this project on designboom here), the scribit pen is eco-friendly in every sense of the word. the pen barrel is available in wood, bioplastic, and anodized aluminum. the natural fiber ink cartridge and nib, which lie inside the barrel, can be replaced, ensuring the barrel can be used multiple times. the water-based, non-toxic super washable ink is high performance and non-toxic to such an extent that it is certified as edible. the project aims to address scribit’s commitment to promoting a circular economy: a sustainable approach to production and consumption which aspires to replace the take-make-waste linear model.

scribit pen by carlo ratti is the world's first compostable marker

 

 

‘we are proud of scribit’s success, and how it has empowered thousands of people around the world to change the way they draw,’ comments carlo ratti, director of the MIT senseable city lab, who led the scribit pen design team. ‘however we were troubled by the amount of plastic produced by the markers that the robot uses. by developing the new scribit pen, we can turn one of humankind’s primordial acts – drawing – into a fully sustainable one.’

 

the scribit pen project is currently under development. stay tuned for more updates.

scribit pen by carlo ratti is the world's first compostable marker

scribit pen by carlo ratti is the world's first compostable marker

scribit pen by carlo ratti is the world's first compostable marker

scribit pen by carlo ratti is the world's first compostable marker

scribit pen by carlo ratti is the world's first compostable marker

 

 

project info:

 

name: scribit pen
a project by: CRA-carlo ratti associati for scribit 

artistic consultancy: italo rota
CRA team: carlo ratti, andrea cassi, luca giacolini, gary di silvio

scribit team: marco conte, andrea bulgarelli, andrea baldereschi, federico morando, gabriele pertile

technical support: polive, de martini, teibow, reinol
video making: the good life studio