No tree has been cut down to produce it, but recycled tons of graphite powder recovered from the industrial processes. Those who use Perpetua are disposing by writing 15g of graphite powder that would otherwise be buried underground, in a landfill, until today more than 10 tons! Certain stories happen by chance, others are born of intuition. Perpetua ticks both boxes. Perpetua is unique, it is the only made in Italy pencil and it is part of a controlled recycle production chain. Perpetua the pencil is an idea of Alisea Recycled & Reused Objects Design, since 1994 a reference name in the ideation, design and production of unique design objects. Through innovation and use of cutting-edge technologies, waste originating from non-renewable raw materials is transformed into unique objects. “Our clients have always been a source of inspiration. So, when one of them asked us if we had any ideas for tons of graphite, a waste product that would cost them several thousands of euro to dispose of, we thought:“why not “write” it away?” said Susanna Martucci founder of Alisea. “Despite not being able to find a pencil manufacturer who would listen to us, at Alisea we were fascinated by this project. We formed a workgroup comprising two experts, one in materials and moulding, the other in automation and two designers and together we made our dream come true.” Perpetua is made out of Zantech®, an innovative material made of 80% recovered graphite – a waste of industrial production – combined with a 20% mixture of compounds, with no additional varnishes or processing. Perpetua’s eraser is available in ten colour variants: yellow, orange, red, fuchsia, light blue, dark blue, dark green, lime green, white and black. Perpetua Glitter – a Perpetua Special Edition – is available in 8 coloured decorations: gold, dark silver, light silver, bronze, red, blue, green and black. The Tailor Made division of Alisea is in charge of developing communication and promotional projects both for companies and individuals through the customization of Perpetua the pencil. “The pencil – what my grandfather used to call by the Latin name ‘lapis’ – has always been part of my life. Hb, 2b, 4b, 6b for soft shades; 2h for technical drawings.Micro leads, maxi leads. And then, the opportunity to design ‘my pencil’. How could I ever say no?” said Marta Giardini, designer of Perpetua. Covered by a patent because it is an invention, it has the following characteristics: it is non-toxic; it is the first pencil to be made using 80% graphite that would otherwise have been thrown away; it doesn’t dirty your hands, even without any additional kind of protective paint or further processing: what you see is what you get with Perpetua; it doesn’t break if it falls on the floor; it can be sharpened in the usual way but it even writes when blunt or cut in half; the colored rubber is all part of the pencil and is food-grade rubber. In June 2016, Perpetua the pencil received an Honorary Mention for ADI Compasso d’Oro Award 2016, the prize of excellence, which rewards beauty as well as research, functional design and creativity for a better future. In February 2015, in New York, Perpetua was nominated in the Green Innovation category at the 2014 Best of Year Awards, organized by Interior Design Magazine and dedicated to the best design projects worldwide. In 2014, Perpetua was awarded the Special Mention as Best Product of the 7thedition of the Premio Impresa Ambiente, promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Rome, in collaboration with Unioncamere (the Union of Italian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade and Agriculture) and with the support of the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea.
