Drawing a sustainable future

Before putting its logo on a pen, the Esch2022 team asked itself a series of important questions in connection with its commitment to sustainable development. The pen had to be environmentally and socially friendly, strong and aesthetically pleasing. To meet these requirements, an exceptional product was needed. We chose the QS40 True Biotic from Prodir, a brand of the Swiss company Pagani Pens SA.

A strict selection process

Before going into more detail on what makes this pen such a special product, we felt it was important to explain the selection process for Esch2022-branded advertising ‘goodies’. To begin with, every product is assessed against more than twenty criteria based on the main principles of the Esch2022 sustainable development charter. This questionnaire allows applicants to better evaluate their product. Is it really useful? Is it really sustainable? Is it really made from responsibly sourced materials? What are the required quantities? What is the target audience? The answers to these questions provide a first indication of the value and usefulness of the product. The completed questionnaires are evaluated by the Esch2022 Sustainable Development team.

A special pen

The Esch2022 pen is not a pen like any other. This is due mainly to its shape and design. Easy to open and reassemble, it is long-lasting thanks to its replaceable cartridge. When trying to create an environmentally responsible product, this is the first rule to follow. You may also notice the holes in the shell of your pen. This particular design feature reduces the use of raw materials, while also bringing down the weight of the pen and therefore its carbon footprint during transport.

This pen has been entirely made in Switzerland, from mine to tip, in a factory that uses 100 % hydroelectric power. It has only travelled from the factory in Switzerland to our offices in Esch-Alzette, and from there to the place where you found it.

Obviously, a key factor is the material used in its production. The exterior elements of this pen are made from PHA, or polyhydroxyalkanoates. This complicated word stands for a type of polyester naturally produced by bacteria as a result of a fermentation of sugars or lipids. This fully biodegradable material is produced without any use of petrochemicals. The shell of your PHA pen can completely disintegrate into CO₂, water and biomass. The material is entirely transformed, nothing is lost. In your composter at home, it will take at least twelve months for the shell to fully dissolve.

This is why the pen you’re holding in your hands is so special. Now it’s your turn! Use it, keep it, replace its cartridge when it’s empty, and if in a few years it should break down, simply throw it in your composter and thus return it to nature!