The pencil sharpeners have a very strong environmental profile. American tulipwood is an abundant and under-utilised hardwood which also benefits from relatively quick drying time, resulting in lower emissions during the kilning process. It’s very strong, durable and aesthetically attractive, reducing the need or desire for replacement. 

The set of four pencil sharpeners is very nearly carbon neutral. The use of wood ensures a big carbon offset due to waste incineration providing energy which substitutes for fossil fuels. The sharpeners only fall short of carbon neutrality due to the relatively large amounts of electrical energy used during fabrication at Benchmark. Given that the LCA measures the very first attempt to manufacturer this product, if this design were ever commercialised it should be a relatively simple matter to increase production efficiency and ensure significant carbon benefits.