Bioplastics News from Asia

Fujitsu introduces world's first biodegradable computer mouse

Substituting renewable materials for plastic, the ECO mouse is 100% recyclable.

Made from the environmentally-conscious plastic substitutes ARBOFORM and BIOGRADE, the Fujitsu Mouse M440 ECO joins the keyboard KBPC PX ECO in the line-up of accessories manufactured from renewable materials.

This helps eliminate from the manufacturing process the use of oil-based resources, such as hard plastic and PVC.

By using biodegradable materials from renewable sources, Fujitsu promotes sustainable production and helps reduce CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process. At the other end of the product life-cycle, less plastic waste is destined for landfill – since the mouse is made from 100% biodegradable materials.

Last year, Fujitsu announced the first keyboard to be made from renewable materials, replacing 45% of the plastic keyboard components with materials from renewable sources.

The keyboard KBPC PX ECO has been extremely successful; Fujitsu estimates that by making the switch to renewable materials for this product, it saves approximately 60,000 kilograms of plastic per year.

With the Mouse M440 ECO, Fujitsu continues to underline that green does not mean compromising on quality, features or performance. The ECO model looks like a normal high-quality plastic mouse, and offers all the latest functionality such as a scroll wheel, plus high accuracy thanks to a 1000dpi optical sensor.

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 07.02.2011. 00:42

Philippines city bans plastic bags

Muntinlupa City has become the first major urban centre in the country to ban the use of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable materials.

Just recently, the city, located in the southern fringes of Metro Manila, started implementing Ordinance Number 10-109.

The local edict prohibits establishments from using, offering or selling plastic bags as primary or secondary packing materials for dry goods, as well as for wet goods such as fish, meat and poultry.

The ordinance further bans polystyrene containers for foodstuffs, drinks and other goods. Likewise, it also imposes fines for violators ranging from P500 (Dh42) to P2,500 (Dh209) as well as imprisonment of not more than six months.

Business establishments found violating the law face having their licences to operate cancelled for up to one year. In passing the Ordinance, the Muntinlupa City Council noted that irresponsibly-disposed-of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable containers were the major causes of flash floods in the city during heavy rains as it clogged canals, creeks, rivers and other waterways.

Francis Tolentino chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority said lauded the city and its mayor, Aldrin San Pedro for initiating the "bold move for the sake of the environment".

Local environmental watchdog, the EcoWaste Coalition, similarly hailed the city council and the Mayor's move. "The Muntinlupa plastic ban offers a beacon of hope for our beleaguered environment that has long been suffering from white pollution," said veteran performing actor Roy Alvarez, President of the EcoWaste Coalition.

"By insisting to enforce the ban, Muntinlupa will become an environmental leader among local government units with this bold measure to reduce plastic litter and promote ecological values," he emphasised.

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 07.02.2011. 00:39

UAE's first oil and gas company to go plastic bag - free

The Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO), a member of ADNOC Group of Companies, has become the first oil and gas company in the UAE to stop using non-biodegradable plastic bags.

On December 31st, 2010 the company, acting in line with its environmental conservation efforts, phased out non-biodegradable plastic bags and introduced an environmentally friendly oxo-biodegradable type.

According to Chief Executive Officer Ali Rashid Al-Jarwan, a multi-faceted strategy to replace non-biodegradable plastic bags by the end of 2010 was executed successfully in all company sites.

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 07.02.2011. 00:35

150,000-ton PLA plant planned for North China

A bioplastics manufacturer in North China has started building a PLA production base that claims planned annual capacity of 150,000 metric tons. More interestingly, the same company announced a same scale project three years ago, only with a different partner.

This time, Hebei Huadan Complete Biodegradable Plastic Co. Ltd. of Shijiangzhuang, Hebei province, is working with Taiwan's Wei Mon Industry Co. Ltd. to invest 400 million yuan (US$ 60 million) on the large-scale facility that will be making PLA packaging materials and consumer products.

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 08.12.2010. 23:17

Plastic trash still top Manila Bay pollutants

MANILA, Philippines—Plastic trash is still the No. 1 source of pollution in Manila Bay, an audit of the garbage collected by various environmental groups showed.

The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (Gaia) Greenpeace, Ecowaste Coalition, and other civil society groups said said they examined 728 liters of polluted water from the bay early this week and found that 75.55 percent of debris gathered was composed of plastic garbage.

• Continue reading • Comments (0) 08.12.2010. 06:19