Japanese pens become mightier in fight against plastic waste

Jetstream series uses thinner-walled refills, eyes shift to paper

20220129N Jetstream

Jetstream is a global brand, with about 100 million sold worldwide each year. (Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Pencil)

YUYA TAKAHASHI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- One of Japan's biggest makers of writing instruments has added its name to the list of companies trying to reduce plastic waste.

Mitsubishi Pencil's new long-lasting ballpoint pen refills use about 30% less plastic than earlier products. They went on sale in Japan in December, a month after the company developed the world's first pen refill made of paper.

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