Author: vshvrdhn

  • Please don’t BUY velvet pencils – 2 Reasons why you shouldn’t!

    I want to be a doctor.

    I want to be a teacher.

    I want to be a superstar.

    I want to be a engineer.

    I want to be an architect.

    Do you know whose words are these?

    No, they aren’t of a person who is deciding what to do with their career after they have graduated. In fact, these words are spoken by our beautiful small children as soon as they learn how to speak and write.

    Do you remember those times when you would run around the house screaming and chanting, ‘When I grow up I will be a doctor, just like my mom/dad.’ You would scribble these words with different velvet colour pencils in your personal diaries and even across your homes on walls, cupboards, and beds.

    Even at this young age, our children taught us one important lesson. There is no age to dream big and there is no dream too big that cannot be achieved.

    All you need is a clear, innocent mind and a guiding element.

    But, what is this element that supports our children throughout their lives?

    Parent’s, Teacher’s? Yes, ofcourse. But other than that there is one more element.

    It is a 19 cm long object, mostly created in a cylindrical shape.

    A pencil.

    A pencil is the backbone of every child’s dream. The pencil supports the child since the time he began colouring in those endless colouring books. In that phase, the vibrant velvety colour pencils taught him how to colour, taught him the names of different objects he would colour, but most importantly it taught him that whatever happens, life will always be colourful when colour pencils are with him.

    Later, that excited, bubbly child joined a play school. A school where he made new friends and commenced the process of learning. A place where alphabets and numbers were introduced to him. He was taught how to write between the lines of his note book. In this stage, the velvet pencil was always ready with it’s dark lead and smooth texture to make A,B,C,D and 1,2,3,4 easy and fun to learn.

    As the child grows up he goes through hectic study schedules, long hours of work and many ups and downs in his life. But like a real hero, the pencil is still there by his side whenever it is needed. Helping him to find the ‘x’ of Mathematics, learning the confusing science formulae, memorising the history dates or studying the entire globe, the pencil was always there.

    Now, comes the time when he had to appear for the most awaited and feared exams. The Final Exam! The pencil’s role here, is not just of support. A pencil becomes the child’s partner during this exam. He shows faith and trust in him and encourages him to do the best he can. The pencil, who doesn’t receive acknowledgement, is one of the main reasons for him to clear these exams.

    That pencil is like a mother. It keeps doing innumerable favours on us so we get the best in life without asking for anything in return.

    Today, the small toddler has evolved into a full grown man. A man who graduated with high grades and has become what he had dreamt.

    Across the globe, you will see plenty of Doctors, Teachers, Architects, Engineers working exceptionally hard in their lives. But guess what?

    Even today, their hand still holds a pencil.

    Some things never change.

    Though, he made his life, but growing up he simultaneously destroyed another life.

    Can you imagine whose life this could be?

    NATURE. He disturbed the life of our mother nature.

    His constant velvety support was actually manufactured out of a material that is not nature friendly.

    Why do we quote, ‘velvet is not a safe material for our planet?’

    Initially,  yes, the smooth and shiny texture of velvet was woven out of silk.

    But, today’s fast fashion, expensive, and impatient world has replaced the natural materials with cheap and artificial ones.

    Most of the industries use our nature’s worst enemy, ‘polyester’ in place of silk to deliver the velvet pencils that countless number of children demand every single day.

    How does polyester, used in velvet pencils shorten the lifespan of our mother earth?

    • Polyester derived from petroleum is an absolutely non biodegradable product.

    And, it’s best shot to even biodegrade partly will be approximately after 200 years.

    Now that’s a scary number.

    • In addition, an energy-intensive heating process is needed to manufacture polyester used to create velvet for velvet pencils. That leads to using excessive quantities of fresh water for its cooling.

    So let’s fasten our seat belts and be ready to welcome a world whose ambience will not be green trees and serene blue water but instead be non biodegradable velvet pencils forever.

    Is it really worth to shine in life over our green and blue globe’s misery?

    Only a miracle can save us from this harmful velvet hole we have dug since childhood.

    In this world of careless consumption, Pepaa is here to save our environment and promote a sustainable living. Pepaa urges every budding child to use its handmade recycled and plantable paper pencils. Pencils designed by our team are not only eco-friendly, but are made with love and precision.

    Everytime you outgrow our pencils, just sow the seeds attached to them into a pot and water them to grow your own personal tree. With Pepaa pencils, every child will build their career and contribute to a greener environment.

    Pepaa’s plantable recycled paper pencil. Shop here

    Say No To Velvet and Yes To Pepaa’s recyclable and 100% biodegradable pencils.

  • PLEASE throw away my wedding card – and watch out for a surprise! 

    PLEASE throw away my wedding card – and watch out for a surprise! 

    A Wedding is a purest and the most precious bond shared between two souls. It’s the celebration of this special bond that keeps growing and getting stronger throughout your lifetime. A bond that carries innumerable sentiments.

    A wedding card is the first impression of your big day that reaches the guest. It’s the first time that your guest hears this glorious news. It’s the first time that your guests get a glimpse of your magnanimous event. You put in an immense amount of time and effort into selecting the most appealing colors, most romantic fonts and the finest combinations. You endeavour to fashion the most spectacular version of your wedding card that you can give out. But have you ever wondered what happens to this historic sheet of paper after the wedding? What happens to the same piece of paper that carries so many emotions when after it reaches the guests?

    Your pristine seed paper wedding invitation card will remain in the homes of your guests for days until they see it lying around without any purpose.

    At first, they would feel uncomfortable at the thought of throwing it away.

    The wedding card would then stick around in their homes for a couple of more days until they finally decide to let go of it.

    WAIT!

    This is no wedding invitation card that will lie in dust for years. This is no wedding invitation card that will find their home in a dustbin. This is no ordinary wedding invitation card.

    Seed Paper Wedding Invitation by Pepaa | Plantcil
    Seed Paper Wedding Invitation by Pepaa | Plantcil. Buy your wedding card here.

    Here’s how this unique creation of a handmade seed paper wedding card transforms itself into a bright, stunning piece of nature, leaving you astonished and in admiration of our planet.

    • Moisten the wedding card with water and break it into smaller pieces.
    • The water will soften the paper making it extremely easy to to tear.
    • Bring a pot of soil and bury these tiny pieces in a thin layer.
    • Treat this paper just like a plant by watering it regularly and providing adequate sunlight to it.

    In few days, you will see something extraordinary sprouting out of this organic wedding invitation. The sight of this thin, moist sheet of paper slowly moulding itself and taking shape of a sweet, delicate flower will surely leave you and your guests awe-struck.

    If you’d like your wedding card to also be plantable, reach out to us by filling the form below:

    [ninja_forms id=1]

    What makes this paper turn into a glorious plant, you ask?

    Well, here’s the amusing part.

    Pepaa’s plantable seed paper wedding cards are handmade from recycled paper. Thus, no trees have been cut to make your wedding invitation cards. This eco-friendly, wood-free paper is then embedded with handpicked seeds that suit your climatic conditions. These fine quality seeds are available in ample of options of fruits and flowers like marigold, tomato, chilli etc. These seeds are based on the choices and preferences of the bride and groom and the aura of the wedding. Once the seeds are infused in the sheets of handmade, sustainable paper, they are dried and cut to the size and shape of the wedding invitation card. Once that is done, its time to print vibrant colors and exotic fonts to make them look as attractive and glamorous as possible. Voila, your eco friendly wedding cards simple yet elegant are ready.

    Pepaa | Plantcil | Indian Superheroes | Plantable Seed Paper Wedding Card | Seed Paper Card | Plantable Wedding Favors | Seed Paper India | Sprout
    Plantable Seed Paper Wedding Card from Pepaa (formerly Plantcil)

    Thus, we have the perfect way to preserve your endless efforts, unforgettable memories and unconditional feelings and prevent them from turning into waste. Our zero-waste wedding cards carry a bundle of heart stirring surprises in them. They carry a bundle of joy and happiness in them. And most importantly, they carry mother nature in them. This means that each wedding card blooms into a beautiful, charming flower and reminds you of your auspicious day. With each passing day, this card grows taller, stronger and greener.

    The wedding invitation features an organic, earthy texture that automatically conveys your message towards a healthier future and conservation of the environment.The plant will slowly germinate in your guests homes and remind them of fond memories at your celebration.

    With more and more people adopting sustainable ways of conducting activities, the concept of green and eco friendly weddings in India is becoming more and more popular. Opting for Plantable Seed Wedding Cars is an absolutely ethical choice to make your big day memorable.

    Plantable Paper Wedding Card – A piece of paper that marks its memory in the lives of people forever.

  • The World’s Largest Ocean Cleanup Has Officially Begun

    The World’s Largest Ocean Cleanup Has Officially Begun

    Ambitious dreams have now become a reality as the Ocean Cleanupdeploys its $20 million system designed to clean up the 1.8 trillion pieces of trash floating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.


    A floater from The Ocean Cleanup.
     THE OCEAN CLEANUP

    The floating boom system was deployed on Saturday from San Francisco Bay and will undergo several weeks of testing before being hauled into action. The system was designed by the nonprofit Ocean Cleanup, which was founded in 2013 by 18-year-old Dutch inventor Boyan Slat. Their mission is to develop “advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.”

    The floating boom system, with the help of dozens of more booms, is estimated to clean up half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch within the first five years. Each boom will trap up to 150,000 pounds of plastic per year as they float along the currents between California and Hawaii.


    Location of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the subtropical convergence zone.
     NOAA

    The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vortex of trash created from an ocean gyre in the central North Pacific. The trash vortex was discovered in the mid-1980s and lies halfway between Hawaii and California.

    The garbage patch is so large, it is easily detectable from space via satellites and covers roughly 1.6 million square kilometers and 1.8 trillion pieces of debris. The trash is collected and trapped within a circulating ocean current, called a gyre. This prevents the distribution of the garbage patch, a benefit when creating a system to collect the plastic.

    The floating boom system, after undergoing testing, will be towed out 1,400 miles to the garbage patch around mid-October and begin collecting trash. The floating boom drifts along with the local currents, creating a U-shaped formation. As the boom floats, it collects trash in the U shaped system, which has 10 feet of netting below it to collect smaller fragments of plastic. Once the boom is full, a vessel will meet the boom to collect the plastic and transport it to land for sorting and recycling.

    The idea is that the 10 feet of netting is not deep enough that fish can’t swim below it, with the hope that the boom will collect trash and not fish. However, this is something that remains to be seen in the open ocean.

    While the organization has ambitious plans and the technology still remains unproven in the open ocean, they are the closest to a solution to cleaning up the garbage patch we have. No other company has a deployable system able to clean up the garbage patch on this scale.

    The company is backed by some heavy hitters in the tech industry, including Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Marc Benioff, the chief executive of Salesforce.com

    Continued testing and deployment of additional boom systems will help further refine the systems to be more efficient and less disruptive to ocean ecosystems.

    Credits: Forbes

  • How to live a zero waste lifestyle?

    How to live a zero waste lifestyle?

    7.62 billion. YES, that’s the current growing population of the world today. To sustain a comfortable and luxurious living for this magnanimous group of mankind, our planet earth is exploited daily of it’s precious and high utility, non-renewable resources. Reports suggest that every year our globe is depleted of 55 billion tons of important and significant resources like biomass, fossil energy, metals and minerals. If we keep going at this alarming rate without implementing corrective measures we will need 1.7 billion more planets like Earth to provide enough resources for the sustainability of the entire human race.

    Our building population is not only threatening the resources underneath the Earth but is also creating a crucial problem of waste pollution on the surface. Did you know that we produce 2.12 billion tons of waste globally every single year? If this waste was loaded on a truck, it would go around our planet for a total of 24 times. Shocking right?

    Slowly and steadily through various destructive, damaging and land degrading incidents, we have finally come to the realisation that if life must continue existing here then we need to opt for natural and planet friendly solutions of surviving. Instead of being the enemy of the only source that has selflessly given us the most beautiful habitat, we need to love, adore, pamper and cherish it. What better than adopting a zero waste lifestyle? It might seem unrealistic but is actually very doable.

    Here’s offering you a few tips on how to begin a zero waste lifestyle:

    Ditch Plastic Packaging

    Did you know that plastic takes over 400 years to decompose? Even then, it never really disappears but just keeps breaking into smaller pieces. With this increasing plastic pollution, you can easily ditch plastic packaging that will go a long way. Look for products with a more sustainable packaging instead. Bring your own jars and containers to buy groceries. Buy products in glass bottles rather than plastic ones, and detergents in boxes rather than bottles. You are not only reducing the plastic you use, but also sending a sustainable message to the manufacturers of those products that you don’t like plastic packaging.

    Recycle and Reuse

    Our lives are loaded with stacks and stacks of waste that goes nowhere but the garbage bins. You can easily segregate this waste and recycle it. Old paper can be recycled to make brand new, handmade paper. Old boxes and Packaging can be reused to create storage. You can also create fun pieces home decor with literally any waste item and a few paints. Get creative and make a difference!

    Switch to eco friendly products

    There are tons of products in the market that are substitutes for products that are manufactured by causing damage to the environment. With this market growing tremendously, new sustainable options are being introduced everyday. For instance, Pepaa makes eco friendly varieties for notebooks, pens, pencils and other paper-based stationery products using recycled paper. Switch to these stunning alternatives today and see the change tomorrow.

    Go paperless, Go Digital

    Paper constitutes to 50% of wastage. Say no to paper for all your bills. Ask for digital ones instead. You can also avoid unnecessary printing. Storing important documents electronically will not only save paper, but also tons of storage as well as money. Take notes on your computer and communicate with via email rather than using paper.

    DIY your products

    Do-it-yourself projects can be life-changing for our ecosystem. Not only will it save the nature on our planet, but also protect you from harsh, toxic chemicals. Products like moisturizers, face packs, soaps, shampoos, perfumes etc can be easily recreated from products readily available in your home. You can also mix white vinegar and baking soda to make your own organic cleaner. These products are completely functional and versatile and are perfect substitutes to dangerous chemical ones.

    And besides, it can be an extremely fun activity too!

    Switch to Reusable Products

    We lead a life where we use a product a few times, dispose it, and quickly buy another. Have you imagined the number of times we have used these one-time products and repurchased them? Instead, use products that have a longer lifeline. Our kitchens are filled with disposable items that are responsible for a whole lot of trash. Try alternatives like biodegradable dinnerware, reusable lunch bags and water bottles. You can also bring your own shopping and grocery bags to avoid using disposable ones. Replace your disposable batteries with rechargeable ones. Always bring your own water bottle. Replace a disposable straw with reusable metal or bamboo straw.

    Compost your leftover food

    A typical household throws away approximately 474 pounds of food waste every year. Composting your leftover food can eliminate 20-50% from your household waste stream, decreasing the burden on landfills while nourishing your plants trees, and gardens for free. From fruits and vegetables to old bread, eggshells and grains, you can compost almost anything in your kitchen.

    Leading a zero-waste lifestyle can have a larger impact than you think.  Just keep “The 4Rs” in mind:

    Refuse

    Reuse

    Reduce

    Recycle

    Simple steps today can lead to better, healthier and greener tomorrow.

  • Top 10 ways to reduce paper waste at office

    Top 10 ways to reduce paper waste at office

    Did you know that 50% of wastage in businesses consists of paper? You would agree, wouldn’t you? 

    Let that sink in for a moment. 50%(!) – Half of all wastes produced in a business – is paper! 

    Paper accounts for 25% of landfill waste and 32% of municipal waste. We think of plastic as a huge pollutant, but so is paper.

    Today, people are becoming more and more conscious and aware of the choices they make and the impact their choices have on our surroundings. People are adopting a greener way of living not only for their own benefit but also for the conservation of the natural habitat. 

    An eco- friendly lifestyle is not just limited to your home or wedding. Have you considered reducing your environmental footprint at your workplace?

    If you’re looking for some inspiration to make a difference, get started with this guide to do your bit.

    Here are our top 10 ways to create a sustainable environment and reduce paper wastage in your

    1. Think before you print

    There are tons and tons of documents we print that we don’t even need. All of us have unnecessary documents lying around. So the next time, just before you click the Print button, take a moment and think, Do you actually need that piece of paper to be printed?

    There are still countless examples of employees continuing to print documents when it is likely unnecessary: for manual filing, when copies already exist, or for getting a signature. Think email, and DigiLocker solutions, or PDF tools with electronic signature capabilities, please

    1. Go digital

    Let’s be a little tech-savvy and go digital. It not only saves paper and reduces waste, but also serves as a more secure and protected medium of storing documents. Electronically stored documents can be more guarded as compared to a traditionally locked cupboard. Not convinced yet? Well, it’s easy to store and locate as you don’t have to look through piles and piles as paper filled documents. What’s more is that they take up no space at all.

    To go completely paper-free and to ensure that all your document processes are digital, you can also ask that all your clients or suppliers to send documents, bills or invoices in an electronic form.

    1. Recycle

    The best way to reduce paper waste is to recycle it instead of disposing it. It might sound like a difficult task but we completely disagree. Segregate paper from other trash. Shred the paper waste, add water and dry it to make your own, brand new, earthy-like paper.

    And besides, recycling 1 ton of paper saves 682 gallons of oil, 26,500 gallons of water and over 17 trees. Surprised, aren’t you?

    Pepaa Manufactures Exquisite Products from Upcycled Paper Waste!


    Look at Pepaa’s Upcycled Products

    1. Reuse paper

    Most people print on one-side of the paper and throw it away immediately once they don’t need it anymore. However, little do we realise is that one side of the paper is still empty and waiting to be used and written upon. This completely functional side of paper can also used for more printing – or for doodling, sketching or jotting down some important points. The intention – if you see a white space on a paper, try filling it up. 

    Think of the sq.ft of paper to be as costly as a sq.ft in Mumbai – and you will never waste another inch again. 🙂 

    1. Print on both sides of the paper

    Print double sided as much you can. People might cringe at the thought of this but trust us, the earth will definitely thank you for saving paper. You can easily select this action from your printers settings and Voila! Your purpose is fulfilled while fighting paper pollution. Set all your computers, printers, and all other devices to print double-sided by default. 

    If you are unsure how to set your computer/printer to print on both sides of the paper, read this guide here.

    1. Reduce Margins, Fonts, Headers and Footers
      This can save considerable amounts of paper waste. How many times have we been guilty of huge font sizes, margins the size of Howrah Bridge, and footers and headers that take up more space than the body of the document? A simple click of the Preview button before you hit that Print button can save dozens of paper waste, surely! 
    1. Eliminate the use of paper towels

    Believe it or not, a major source of paper pollution in businesses is paper towels and tissues. Generally, people hastily use tissues without paying attention to their quantity of consumption. Replace your paper towels with effective air dryers and water systems. Cloth towels can also be an eco friendly substitute.

    1. Stop using Paper Plates and Paper Cutlery

    Using disposable cutlery at events or even on a daily basis at work can be threatening for the environment. Instead, switch to the basic steel or glass based cutlery. This will save you tons of money as well as garbage. And besides, it would also give your delicious food a very homely vibe. Now who wouldn’t want that?

    1. Use recycled paper Business cards

    This would be an extremely useful tip to taking a sustainable step at work. Use recycled tree-free paper to print your business or visiting cards. It’s great for the environment and would instantly convey your eco friendly ethics to any receiver. Good or good? 

    Better Yet, What If Your Business Card Can Be Planted and You Can Grow Flowers and Vegetables?


    Is That Really Possible? I Want Them!

    1. Re-check your document before printing

    How many times have we realised grammatical errors and spelling mistakes after printing a document? Check a document thoroughly before you actually click on the print option. It will save you many resources like paper, ink, money and time!

    Conserving paper in the office is a very important step for the future of the planet. Let’s be eco-conscious and do our bit.Taking a step towards sustainability and making a contribution will not only bolster your corporate image and local reputation, but will also lead to minimization of paper waste on a large scale. Let’s save the paper to save the planet!

    What are your ways in which you reduce paper waste in your office? Let us know in the comments below.