The most difficult thing about this question, is there still really isn't a clear answer. I have been reading on this subject and most arguments are left, well, as arguments. Immediately I wanted to say mechanical pencils, because once you run out of lead you just simply refill it. However, it takes plastic and chemicals to make the mechanical pencil, which means much more energy is used. For instance, many low cost mechanical pencils (generally the ones that come in a 20-something pack) are made out of polystyrene. Polystyrene uses up a lot of petroleum which means it uses up a lot of energy and releases some pretty harmful things into our planet. Unless your purchasing mechanical pencils that are made from recycled materials, than it might be worth it. This is the same case for pens. Pens are made of plastic and chemical inks and I am sure most people throw out their pens after the ink runs out as oppose to recycling it or re-filling. But pencils on the other hand, aren't that great either. Though it takes less energy to produce pencils since they are made out of raw materials, there are some cons. Pencils are made of wood, usually from Cedar trees, and graphite. So, trees must be deforested to supply some pencils. Though pencils are able to break down and decompose, one must be weary where the wood used to make the pencil came from.
The good news is that I am not the only one who has asked this question and there are a lot of options for fans of all writing circles. Many bookstores, including ours here at SFSU, sells pens and pencils made from recycled materials. For now, I think the best option we have is to purchase pens and pencils that are made from recycled plastics or wood. Let me know what you think! Pens or Pencils?
