Fast-moving machines, bright colors, plastic injection molding, water-based ink, caps, labels. This promotional video for Faber-Castell goes behind the scenes at the Engelhartszell factory in Austria to see how highlighters are made, specifically 35 million writing instruments using around 250 tons of ink.
The company reports that they’re increasing the amount of recycled plastic being used in the pen bodies. But how do we recycle pens when they’re out of ink?
Services like Terracycle attempt to provide ways to recycle dried up pens; their boxes are great for school or neighborhood recycling drives.
There are also more eco-friendly products like highlighter pencils that don’t require recycling.
Watch this next: How does Faber-Castell make pencils?
Plus, more ink and pens:
• How does a retractable ballpoint click pen work?
• How is an Etch A Sketch made?
• How to make a DIY Drawbot
• Inside the Pantone color factory
• How Ink Is Made: Pigment powders, varnish, & big machines
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