Google Makes a Mouse (from Recycled Plastic)

From Google comes a wireless optical mouse (with USB WiFi dongle) made of recycled plastic, a worthy entry into the burgeoning market of greener electronics. Even the packaging is made from recycled materials! Of course, it still uses AAA batteries (please use rechargeable ones when possible), and like most electronic devices today, the internal components are probably still toxic. However, it is clear that Google is taking an environmentally pro-active approach to product development, not to mention their initiative in leading the transition to alternative energy and making California (and the nation) a green powerhouse. One question is whether the company will accept these mice back at end of life for further recycling/reuse, but my guess is that they will. As part of their Green Initiative, the company intends to develop more products like the mouse, office supplies, clothing, etc, from more sustainable (e.g. organic or recycled) sources, for sale to customers and fans.

Available in (Google)Red and (Google)Blue directly from the company.

Ecolean Packaging, A Unique Alternative

Ecolean makes a packaging system that uses a material which is based on calcium carbonate (aka, made from a chalk). They are calling their patented material “Calymer” and it consists of 40% calcium carbonate, natural chalk and polymers (PE and PP) as the binding agent. The packages are manufactured and printed by Ecolean in accordance with each food producer’s instructions. They are then delivered on reels to the factory (who will be adding the contents), hygienic and hermetically pre-sealed. Their Calymer material should not be confused with biodegradable plastics on the market as they follow a different life-cycle. According to their site, upon disposal, a used Calymer package can either be recycled as a traditional plastic or “recovered as energy by incineration.”

The Ecolean Calymer material comes with a full Food Contact Approval Certificate and has improved organoleptic properties over traditional plastic packaging options, meaning that it will preserve the freshness and protect the containers contents longer. The system requires a their proprietary production line with filling machines and packing stations. The filling machine opens, fills and re-seals the packages in 2.4 seconds. Although their Ecolean packaging is available with the system, the Calymer material itself is not for sale.

Crate and Barrel Releases Their “Eco” Line

Crate and Barrel has released several new products that promise to be a step in the eco-friendly direction. Slogans such as “Introducing more eco-friendly upholstery, without more expense” can be seen in their product ads. As a major distributor of housewares caught in the sustainability wave, they’ve been trying to minimize waste for some time now. From 2001-02 they worked with their stores to discontinue the use of petroleum-based foam peanuts for packaging. In April of 06 they successfully discontinued the use of foam peanuts was company-wide. In 2002, Crate and Barrel eliminated foam-in-place as a packing material.

Last year, Crate and Barrel made its vendors discontinue the use of white bleached shipping cartons. Their shopping bags for the holiday season in 07 were up to 30% post-consumer recycled material and were printed using water-based inks. In addition, the protective tissue used for shopping bags and boxes is made with 70% post-consumer waste fibers.

The Geämi Material system that they currently use for packaging employes a process where a special sheet of paper is put through a machine that expands it, cutting down on shipping costs and allowing their stores to only use what they need while saving storage space. For another innovative packaging material, see the Expandos system.

Cohda Designs: URE plastic sculptures

Designers today are thinking up new ways to make everyday products out of this excess of recycled materials.   This type of new market gives designers an opportunity to develop new materials, experiment, design, and create. With advances in tools and processes, and an excess of waste we have a clear and direct opportunity.

Cohda Designs a UK based design group has developed a new process for recycled plastic called U.R.E.- Un-cooled Recycled Extrude.  Due to the limitations of pre-manufactured recycled sheets these men invented their own process for melting down raw recyclable trash (plastic packaging) to create a new material.  First they feed the machine materials that they collect form viewers or the community, it spits out small pellets, then they feed that to the melter which spits out a taffy-like extruded rod.  They then sculpt it around a mold to create a functional piece of furniture.  Since discovering that the creation of these chairs makes a great performance, Cohda Designs has taken their packaging eating machine to trade shows around the world.  They call their events the Public Recycling Factory.

China Bans Free Plastic Bags!

Come June 2008 all stores in the entire country of China will be no longer be able to give out plastic shopping bags for free. The regulation is a part of Beijing’s effort to reverse the trend of their countries severe air and water pollution. As the country has experienced great economic growth due to the output of more and more low-cost consumer products, they have been met with the dark side of critical environmental conditions. Now its time to cut pollution, and conserve resources. The regulation requires all stores to mark the cost of each plastic bag and prohibits them for incluing the new price in the price of the product. The regulation also calls on all consumers to return to yesterdays cloth and basket methods for shopping.

While “white pollution” (as some call it in reference to the swarms of white plastic “thank you” shopping bags) has started to clutter our streets and pile up in our landfills, other cities are seeing the severity of the situation. San Francisco was the first U.S. state to impose a ban on all petrolium based bags, among other cities are Hong Kong, and Melbourne.

So peers, the race is on, and the wheels are turning us around. Forget about the hopes for switching to compostable plastic bags (although better, they are still made for one-time use experiences), get inspired by change then go out and do it yourself. Write an email to your Mayor or talk to someone in the Department of Environment, and encourage a new policy.

Not Your Grandma’s Foam Peanuts

To all the business owners out there. Put down your bubble wrap and step away from the polystyrene. ExpandOS is an innovative cushioning material designed to save costs and reduce the environmental impact of packaging. The pieces interlock with each other, keeping items being shipped securely in place. Sheets of this material come flat shipped and are designed to be expanded on-site as needed using a machine that comes with their system. No more ugly rolls of bubble wrap or bags of foam peanuts lying around the studio, taking up space. As an added bonus, they can print on this packaging material if you’re looking to get your name out there.

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