7 ways fountain pens are sustainable, green, zero waste, and environmentally friendly

General recycling and electric cars may get the headlines for sustainability, but here’s a new one for you: fountain pens. How many pens have we thrown away over the years when they ran out of ink? Or because they were old, dried up, or otherwise stopped working? If each of us could stack our lifetime pile in front of us, how big would it be?

Fountain pens may cost a little more upfront for a single pen, but it’s worth it. There are good beginner options for $10-$30. You can easily go that route first to get used to them…before dropping $100 or more on one that’s just so you.

Here are seven ways fountain pens are sustainable, green, zero waste, and environmentally friendly.

1. They’re infinitely reusable. Fountain pens can last a lifetime with proper care. This reduces waste compared to disposable – usually plastic – pens…but I’m getting ahead of myself.
2. You can find fountain pens made from sustainable materials. Materials like metal, wood, or bamboo have a lower environmental impact than plastic.
3. They’re endlessly refillable. Fountain pens can be refilled with bottled ink, eliminating the waste of one-time-use disposable pens. Are you thinking, “So what? It’s just ink.” Noooo… Let’s say you tend to buy black ink pens. Yep, that same color black that everyone else has. Ink doesn’t have to be boring. Have you seen Birmingham Pens’ “Locomotive”? Or Diamine’s “Blue black”? You don’t need to stick with one color – have a variety! Today it may be “Fire Hydrant”, and when that runs out you may feel like reloading it with “Iced Cookie”, and the next time with “Shin-ryoku”. Imagine having a handful of your favorite colors on hand to keep filling the same fountain pen, without the pen waste.
   
   And I’m just gonna leave this here: you haven’t written with blue ink until your eyes behold Anderillium’s “Flying Squid Blue” flowing out of your pen onto the paper. #myfave
4. The ink is environmentally friendly. Ink made for fountain pens is often soy-based or water-based, which is more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based inks.
5. They’re reparable. Fountain pens have replaceable parts and can be repaired, extending their usable lifespan. (Note: You’ll have to be careful here if it’s a vintage model. Please consult a qualified nibmeister if you’ve inherited your grandmother’s fountain pen.)
6. They have a smaller carbon footprint. Fountain pens have a smaller carbon footprint compared to the manufacturing and disposal of disposable pens. The long-lasting nature of fountain pens means fewer resources are needed to produce them compared to disposable pens.
7. They promote sustainability and waste reduction in general. Fountain pens can be passed down through generations, promoting sustainability and reducing waste over time. Even when buying your own, they often come in minimal – or no – packaging, which further reduces waste. Fountain pens are also a more sustainable alternative to disposable ballpoint and felt-tip pens, which can be difficult to recycle.

If you’re interested in checking out fountain pens, search online for “pen show near me.” There are many: Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, Orlando, the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill), the DC Supershow, and Miami are just a few. See my 11 tips for attending your first pen show if you decide to attend one.