Does your letter opener have an existential crisis? The Letter Opener Made of Old Letters, designed by Bjarke Ballisager of PLANT Design Studio, is a fun office friend who just happens to suffer from a personal dilemma of destroying the very thing that serves its existence. The blade of the letter opener is made entirely of post-consumer recycled paper, which is then coated in a clear, water-based resin prepared from cashew nuts. Though the irony of the letter opener’s composition is tickling, the product design is equally – if not more – thoughtful. The handcrafted item also has a solid handle that is carved from locally grown poplar, and the switchblade design allows the angled blade to be easily held in place with a simple, polished steel screw. The corrugated edge of the matte gray blade is visually evocative of stacks of paper, and is a reminder of the letter opener’s unique and modern composition.
