Inhabitat » Din-ink Cutlery Retools the Bic-Pen

February 20, 2008

Din-ink Cutlery Retools the Bic-Pen

by Abigail Doan

Din-Ink Cutlery, Bic pen cutlery, Zo-loft Italian design, biodegradable cutlery, Din-ink Cutlery Retools the Bic-Pen, Green compostable bic cutlery, bic pen cutlery, compostable green consumer product design

If you associate the affordable and ubiquitous ‘Bic pen’ with disposable, throw away office culture - think again, as Zo-loft design has added a whole new dimension to desktop utility. Their “Din-ink” series of Bic pen style tops allows you to instantly convert your writing tools into ready made cutlery. With one easy step that trusty chewed-up pen of yours can become a sleek spoon, fork, or knife for that classic dining ‘al desko’ experience.

Din-Ink Bic pen cutlery Zo-loft Italian design biodegradable cutlery compostable green consumer product design

Din-ink designers, Andrea Cingoli, Paolo Emilio Bellisario, Francesca Fontana, and Cristian Cellini, went the extra measure to insure that the set of tops were 100% biodegradable, non toxic, and hygienic. They are cleverly made out of renewable resources like natural starch and fiber (GM free corn and potato) and come in compostable and heat-sealable packaging, too. Din-ink tops are also heat reisistant to 105 degrees C. That’s hot! (Even cooler, they used vegetable-based ink for all of their product printing).

You all devoured our Spudware Cutlery coverage a few months ago, so we hoped that you might enjoy another example of how eco-dining is going upscale by reducing waste while being innovative and tasteful, too!

+ Zo loft: architecture and design
+ Re-inventing the Bic Pen on designboom

14 Responses to “Din-ink Cutlery Retools the Bic-Pen”

Peter Says:

February 20th, 2008 at 6:35 pm

How to make a pen not fit in your pocket:

1. Use this product.
2. Attempt to place in pocket.
3. Fail.

Rachael Says:

February 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

4. Who wears a pen in their pocket? Who are you, Professor Frink?
5. You could probably keep the original cap if you needed to carry in in or on your pocket. And keep the awesome lids in your desk or whatever.

As someone tied to their desk, I LOVE this concept. Australian stockists?

JAM Says:

February 21st, 2008 at 7:15 am

I would be worried about consuming ink and ink poisoning

Mikael Says:

February 21st, 2008 at 7:43 am

Zo-loft design?? Zoloft is also a prescription anti-depressant medicine (SSRI).

However looking at the spoon and fork, it seems like food would fall in to the ben through the small hole in the top. Could result in some messy writing I think.. Or very delicious of course :)

Pam Says:

February 21st, 2008 at 3:58 pm

I think the idea is better to wait until you are done with the pen and just use the case as your utensil handle. Don’t even bother trying to combine the two uses. What a TERRIFIC opportunity!

Christopher P. Says:

February 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 am

I’ve been using Bic pens as chopsticks for years! Good straws, too! And spitball blowguns…

Abigail Doan Says:

February 22nd, 2008 at 9:49 am

Dear Rachel/Mikael:

I am not sure about Din-ink stockists for Australia. You might be able to convince a local design shop or contemporary museum store to order the Din-Ink set via the designers’ website.

And as per Mikael’s comment, Zoloft.com is the address and name for the anti-depressant. Zo-loft.com is the Italian design house, and I see that their website is currently being revised. I had the same thought until I did a bit of sleuthing online.

Thanks for reading and sending us your comments!

Abigail @ Inhabitat

George Page Says:

February 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 am

Hey guys,

Looks like the winner of this competition was really “inspired” by James Rennick´s BIC Biro cutlery.
Here is the link:

http://coroflot.com/public/individual_file.asp?individual_id=164229&portfolio_id=606711&sort_by=1&

It´s amazing how people rip off someone else´s design nowadays…and even win competitions with it!

See for yourselves.

Cheers.

Abigail Doan Says:

February 22nd, 2008 at 10:01 am

Sorry, that’s ‘Rachael” not “Rachel”. My apologies!

- Abigail

paul urbanas Says:

February 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am

Hello??? how about “R” #1…. reduce…. stop buying those pens in the first place.

Huon Says:

February 24th, 2008 at 7:30 am

Those lids look like they could come off anytime.
Just the sawing action of the knife would soon losen the thing right off!
Who designed this anway? Beakdu Architects?
For christ’s sakes!!!

Rupert Says:

February 27th, 2008 at 9:51 am

For all those worried about ink poisioning… don’t forget the lids were designed to fit on both ends!

Rupert Says:

February 27th, 2008 at 10:04 am

Also… the simple design of these pens has got to be more E-friendly (using simple manufacturing) than fancy and intricate fountain pens etc and I know alot of these are made from recycled materials, for example my uni uses the plastic cups from a friday night to make pens to sell in their shop. Add to that the fact you mass buy these (reducing packaging, transport bulk) and I’m struggling to think of a better more eco friendly pen thats so ubiquitous at present.

Does plastic = bad when used responsibly?

Imagine a Bic made from bio-degradable plastic: PEN HEAVEN!