Pencil leads made from coffee grounds are presented (3 photos + 1 video)
Category: Interesting photo stories, PEGI 0+
16 July 2024
Notes on paper will now be not only informative, but also fragrant. 
Los Angeles-based startup Zirobio has unveiled GRIND Z, the world's first mechanical pencil leads made from recycled coffee grounds. The design bureau Yanko Design reports on an unusual project.
Leads with a diameter of 5.6 mm fit all automatic pencils. Each rod is made from coffee production waste - special binders are added to the coffee grounds, which allow the coffee particles to stick tightly together and be evenly applied to the paper. The composition is as simple as possible: 20% processed coffee and 80% glue and wax.
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The lead leaves a light brown color on the sheet. There are different hardness options. For example, soft models are suitable for shading, harder ones for drawing. You can sharpen such leads either with a knife or with a regular sharpener. The lead does not leave marks on your hands when writing, unlike graphite. However, coffee marks on paper cannot be erased either with a mark or an eraser. Also, the stroke left by a coffee pencil cannot be shaded with your finger.
GRIND Z leads are more suitable not for artists, but for office workers, schoolchildren and students. As a pleasant bonus, the manufacturer guarantees a pleasant bitter smell of Arabica coffee when writing.
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An interesting fact from the creators of invigorating pencils: every day, humanity drinks 3.5 billion cups of coffee. However, after this pleasant ritual, a significant amount of unused coffee grounds remains. Every year, more than 11.8 million tons of coffee waste are generated worldwide, only 5% of which is truly recycled.
