Project Ankur

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth's environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. Killing millions and millions of humans as well as animals is a clear indication of how noxious plastic pollution is. These modern conveniences are so ubiquitous and so quickly thrown out that they hardly register in our minds. But single-use plastics come with a steep environmental price, one that we’ll be paying off for millennia. Single-use plastics are a glaring example of the problems with throwaway culture. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. Our reliance on these plastics means we are accumulating waste at a staggering rate.

Plastic pens are one of the most widely used writing tools in the world. Even with computers replacing handwritten documents, pens are still used daily. The issue with these pens is that without having their metal components removed, plastic pens actually aren’t recyclable.

Did you know ?
"Every year India discards millions of plastic pens. In Delhi alone, approximately 5,34,91,000 pens are discarded every year highlighting the pressing need to engender a change."

A plastic pollution free world is not a choice but a commitment to life - a commitment to the next generation and we at Enactus SAC have embarked on a journey to curb this situation with our Project Ankur. Seeing the need and opportunity for the same, we started looking for an alternative. Sustainability is going to be the survival stunt in the near future. Project Ankur is a vocal initiative in the same line. The only way out of the voracious cycle of plastic pollution is to substitute it with better and more sustainable articles. We as a society have always resonated with the common notion of creating sustainable and much more nature-oriented substitutes around us. With a mission to keep a check on single use plastic, we came up with an alternative after thorough research which is bamboo. Bamboo pens are not only environment friendly but also feasible. With an effort to inspire people to live a sustainable life, we opted for the same with the motive of converting it back into a tree.

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The product is conceptualised and manufactured by a local family of carpenters in Delhi who were taught how to make a pen in the primary stage by the volunteers of Enactus SAC. We uphold the virtue of community outreach and with the propulsive force of making a difference to the society, we have successfully generated a source of stable income for the family by educating them about the ill effects of pollution and assisting them in the manufacturing process. We provided employment opportunity to the carpenters by ensuring them pivotal role in our manufacturing process. As we further progress with our project we wish to grow and diversify our outreach by transferring the knowledge of the grim reality of plastic pollution to low-income groups and urge them to join and work with us for a noble cause. ​