Highlighters are a staple in any student or professional’s life. They bring attention to significant details, underline crucial information, and make studying or working a color-coded task. However, the production and disposal of highlighters pose a burden on the environment due to the plastic materials used for their bodies and the synthetic ink to fill them.
Switching to sustainable highlighters is one solution. Even better, you can make them at home, ensuring they are environmentally friendly while also engaging in a fun, creative project. So, how do you make sustainable highlighters at home?
First off, you need to collect your materials. Essential supplies include glass containers with cork tops, beet juice or turmeric for natural dyes, water, vegetable glycerin, cotton wicks, alum (a color fixative), and small tweezers. These materials are nature-friendly, readily available, and non-toxic, a start in making your environmentally sustainable highlighters.
When you have gathered all the necessary materials, begin preparing your homemade ink. There are different natural dyes you can use for your sustainable marker, each creating a different color. For instance, using beet juice will give you a beautiful deep pink, while turmeric produces a vibrant yellow color.
To create your ink, mix a tablespoon of your chosen dye with 80ml of water and a teaspoon of vegetable glycerin. The glycerin helps the ink flow smoothly onto the page, preventing blotches or streaks. Depending on how vibrant you want your color, you may adjust the amount of dye. After combining your ingredients, add a pinch of alum to the mixture. Alum acts as a fixative and helps the color bond with the paper.
While the homemade ink settles, prepare the body of your sustainable highlighter. For the marker body, glass containers with cork tops work best. They are eco-friendly and can be reused as needed. Cut your cotton wick to an appropriate length such that it matches the height of the glass jar and lets a small part stick out – this will be the tip of your highlighter.
Using your small tweezers, place the wick inside the empty glass container. Make sure it fits snugly and reaches the bottom. Then, pour your homemade ink carefully into the glass container, ensuring it fills up to the level of the cork top. Notice as the cotton wick absorbs your highlighter ink.
Once your wick is entirely soaked with ink, securely fix the cork top of the glass container. Your sustainable highlighter is ready! Give it a moment to allow the ink to distribute evenly throughout the wick before using it. Remember, the amount of liquid the wick soaks up will govern the saturation of color on the page.
One of the best things about making your own sustainable highlighters is that you can tailor them exactly as you wish, not just in terms of color but also in size, shape, and design. Further customization could include adding a brush tip for a different style of highlighting, or even mixing your own hues by combining different natural dyes.
Bear in mind; since this is a natural ink, it may not be as vibrant or as lasting as synthetic brands, but the concept behind it, its sustainability and non-toxicity, undeniably brings something unique to your study or work table.
And what happens when your homemade ink runs out? The advantage of this sustainable highlighter is you can simply open the jar again, create a new batch of ink, refill the container, and it will be ready for usage – an excellent example of a reusable, zero-waste writing tool.
As an additional tip, if you require more than one sustainable highlighter, consider using differently shaped or sized jars for each color to distinguish between them easily. This will not only help in organizing your study or work space but will also add a charming, customized touch.
We can’t stress it enough; the overproduction and disposal of plastic highlighters have been causing significant harm to our Earth’s environment. By choosing to produce homemade sustainable highlighters, not only are you contributing to the reduction of plastic waste but you’re also inviting a fun, wholesome activity that results in a unique, eco-friendly product.
Remember, every step towards a sustainable life counts. And creating your own sustainable highlighters at home is one small, yet significant step that goes a long way in promoting healthier practices for our planet.
Ultimately, in making sustainable highlighters at home, you’re not just getting vibrant and organized notes. You’re participating in an act that encourages sustainable practices while getting the benefit of bespoke, eco-friendly objects for daily use.
