Bamboo or Plastic?

Over the past several years, a trend has emerged, of consumer electronics companies employing counter-intuitive materials like bamboo, as an alternative for their product housings, ranging from Amadana’s popular line of elegant consumer electronics, to Asus‘ upcoming line of laptops and LCD monitors, and even Dell’s recent foray in this direction, with it’s energy-efficient “Mini PC” concept shown at CES 2008. Does this represent a positive revolution in the effort to find alternatives to virgin or toxic materials, or simply a case of jumping on the green material bandwagon without considering the potential short-lived or negative consequences? Certainly, using bamboo means less plastic is used, which is perhaps a step in the right direction, and Asus even claims that its laptops will feature interchangeable (and recyclable) bamboo panels, but there are more things to consider.

As these and other companies increasingly use such materials, it is important for them to ensure that their sources be grown and maintained with the highest standards of sustainability (as natural as it is, bamboo can also be grown through great destruction to forests), while at the same time, develop sensible buy-back programs as well as strive to develop genuine non-toxic alternatives to typical electronic components. Many companies are beginning to see the benefit of adhering to environmentally sensible principals, so there is hope that initial steps like using bamboo, will be combined with the overriding long term mission to design and manufacture the electronics of the future with zero negative effects. An ideal whose time has certainly come.

Pet Doo-doo Dilemmea

Are you one of the millions of pet owners who experience second degree duty grief every day? Every time you take your dog for a walk, do you take along a doo-doo bag?  Every time you change the kitty litter, do you scoop it into a plastic bag to have a stink free trash? For all of you pet owners out there, your pets can now do their business and you can get off guilt free. (Disclaimer: this does not solve the actual litter toxicity problem but does although solve excrament disposal issues.)

New to the market this summer, Perf Go Green is introducing a full line of 100% biodegradable kitty litter bags and waste bags of all sizes.  When less than 2% of plastic bags get recycled, it is easy to see the responsible next step. Standard plastic bags take anywhere from 100-500 years to break down, while biodegradable bags take anywhere from 12-24 months to break down leaving far less mass in landfills annually.

Manufactured by Spectrum Plastics, these bags are composed of recycled plastic, OXO-biodegradable additives, and are designed with a perforated film to aid in the decomposition process. Keep your eye peeled and your conscience out of the guilt weeds.

Mirel Bioplastic by Metabolix

The public knows the basic about bioplastic. What is actually produced with such plastics ? As designers it’s good to know who to contact, when we actually need to develop a project with such product, i would like to present Mirel, produced by Metabolix a 15 years old company specialised in bio plastic research.

What is Mirel ?

A family of plastic based on corn sugar. Its biobased sustainable and biodegradable.

When we see (- Plastic debris piling up in Pacific - ) what happen to our tons of plastic it’s urgent to go for biodegradable.

What can be done with Mirel family ?

Mirel can be used in a wide variety of applications, from packaging, to cosmetic cases, from plastic bags to toothbrushes.

it’s support injection molding, extrusion coating and could be provided as sheet.

Mirel is well documented in ecolect database, have a look, register and share your knowledges with the community.

For more information on Mirel properties, check Metabolix presentation on their website.
Mirel bioplastic slideshow

Biodegradable Gift Cards: Get Them While They Last

This year Target released the biodegradable gift card made from Mirel. Metabolix, the producer of Mirel is located in Cambridge Massachusetts, just an hour away from our office in Providence. These new gift cards are said to biodegrade within about 40 days. Like all “sustainable” materials entering the market today, there are challenges. First, Bio-plastics need to be composted well or they won’t decompose. Second, a large amount of energy is sometimes needed to make bio-plastics. That said, with the creation of more innovative composting methods and certified renewable resources, bio-plastics are on the rise as a good working alternative. For more information on this material, visit www.mirelplastics.com.

Clovernook Manufacturing: Starbucks, Pay Attention

For the last 104 years, the Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired has helped create jobs for those with vision disabilities. According to their web site, they empower over 140 skilled workers with jobs. And what exactly do they manufacturer? Simple paper office products like folders, labels, and compostable paper cups. How fantastic would it be for a corporation like Starbucks to take a page from Clovernook’s social and environmental playbook towards paper cup manufacturing?

In addition to the millions of file folders produced in manila, kraft and pressboard with full custom capability, Clovernook has recently introduced the first and only 100% biodegradable, compostable, and renewable environment-friendly hot paper cup on the market. These cups have received FDA approval and comply with ASTM standard 6400 for compostable testing.