From Old Newspapers to Plantable Pencils: A Sustainable Innovation in the Philippines

AI-generated illustration of plantable pencils made from recycled newspapers.

Instead of wasting old newspapers, they can be transformed into pencils by wrapping them around a graphite core. Some of these pencils even contain capsules with seeds that can be planted anytime when a pencil is no longer useful because of its length.

Under suitable conditions, the seeds can sprout into a plant. According to Paramitha (2025), initiatives in the Philippines, such as Eco Hub Cebu and Usbong, produce plantable pencils using recycled newspapers. The pencils can have seeds such as basil, mint, tomatoes, and sunflowers. Furthermore, according to the article, the pencils by Usbong are handmade by mothers living in Milaor, Camarines Sur.

Plantable pencils can make children learn writing in a fun manner. Instead of throwing away a pencil after it is too short to be used by someone or you, it could be planted into soil and reveal what happens.

This gives children an opportunity to learn how plants grow, including information about soil, water, and sunlight. In addition, teachers can ask students to do observational work.

UNESCO states that education in terms of development gives individuals necessary knowledge and skills to deal with environmental issues.

Making pencils from old newspapers gives the paper another use and makes children understand the importance of recycling. Schools could organize a gathering of used newspapers and gardening works for students.

However, the result depends on how the pencils are made and the ability of seeds to germinate, but it is still a creative way to connect school supplies with awareness of the environment.

References

Paramitha, D. (2025, September 8). Old newspapers in the Philippines are being transformed into pencils that grow basil when they are thrown away or planted after use. Seasia.co.

UNESCO. (n.d.). What you need to know about education for sustainable development. Unesco.org