With a view to save trees and stop wastage, Sri Venkateshwara College of Engineering in Bengaluru has introduced paper seed pencils in their SVCE Schools. Now, every child in the school is effectively using these pencils when they need to draw and write. They're not just eco-friendly but are weightless when compared to the pencils made of wood — and when you're done, plant them in the soil and lo and behold, you have a plant from your pencil.
Nageswara Guptha M, Vice Principal, SVCE believes that teaching children to save trees should not be restricted to lessons in the classroom but should extend to practice as well. He says, "It has been only a month since we introduced paper seed pencils in our school and college campuses. We have received a good response from parents. Initially, I thought of introducing paper pencils made from recycled paper. But a friend of mine told me about introducing paper seed pencils. The advantage of these pencils is that when they are thrown in the soil, a small plant sprouts out."
Thus, Nageswara contacted Madhan B, who is a Proprietor of Kavi Papers in Perambalur in Tamil Nadu manufactures pencils from recycled paper. The duo discussed producing paper seed pencils and arrived at a decision to produce some samples. Based on the demand, Madhan would go for large-scale production. "Within a week or so, he manufactured paper seed pencils and we were very happy to give them to children. In fact, the manufacturer uses extra dark graphite and the writing is as dark as when we write with normal pencils," he explains
Madhan has been doing this business for two years now and he produces 6,000 paper and paper seed pencils every day. "The seeds that I use in these pencils are usually tomato, chilli, mustard, spinach, onion, brinjal and more. Around 10 schools in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu buy these pencils with me. While the manufacturing cost is Rs 1.40 the selling cost is Rs 2.50. The cost of paper seed pencils is very low when compared to the pencils made of wood. Each wood pencil costs Rs 5 and the online cost of paper seed pencils is Rs 10 each," says Madhan
