Farewell and Thank You from Save That Pen

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After more than a decade, Save That Pen is winding down. What started in 2010 as a simple idea among four NUS students grew into a movement that reached schools, offices, and communities across Singapore. Back then, we noticed how many pens were being discarded and wanted to do something about it. With collection bins, partnerships with brands like Pilot and Zebra, and the dedication of volunteers, we gathered, sorted, refilled, and redistributed pens to underprivileged students while raising awareness about unnecessary waste.

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But Save That Pen was never just about “saving” individual pens. If we did a full life cycle analysis of our operations, the environmental impact might not have outweighed the waste or carbon emissions avoided. Instead, our goal was always to spark conversations—using a small, everyday object to help people reflect on the waste we generate in modern life. Back in 2010, such awareness was sorely needed, but today, the Zero Waste movement in Singapore has grown in much more impactful ways, led by many others in this space.

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While we step back, we still believe in supporting student groups who want to carry this forward through our Save That Pen starter kit. Schools are uniquely positioned to build a virtuous ecosystem for pen collection, refilling, and redistribution, and more importantly, they offer young people a chance to learn how to organize initiatives, engage communities, and understand the challenges of behavior change.

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The Zero Waste spirit is what we hope to leave behind in all the lives we’ve touched. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey—our volunteers, partners, and supporters. We’re still here, just working more quietly behind the scenes while a new generation leads the charge.

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With gratitude,
The Save That Pen Team