Bug “fat” becomes injection moldable plastic
Review by Michael Smith
Recently I encountered the EcoGen products on the Top Drawer Spring 2009 show in London's Earl's Court I and I was then sent a set of the bathroom accessories, the only products so far on the market, made from this revolutionary new plastic.
EcoGen is the first biodegradable plastic that can be injection moulded, just like ordinary thermo-plastic, and while the products will not deform, lose their shape or suddenly disintegrate in normal use, once the consumer no longer wants them he or she can safely, without any need to worry (so we are told) dispose them in the ordinary compost and the material will have composted down within 6 to 9 months or thereabouts.
EcoGen Bullet Points
- The first products to be made entirely from a biodegradable, injection molded material developed from renewable resources.
- A leather boot in a landfill will last 40 to 50 years, a soda pop can up to 500 years, a plastic jug 1 million years, and a discarded Styrofoam cup or glass bottle possibly forever.
- In contrast, EcoGen will biodegrade in six to nine months when composted.
- The science behind EcoGen is a polymer called PHBV (poly-hydroxy butyrate-covalerate), a derivative of the molecule that Forbes magazine declared “one of the five molecules that will change the world.”
- To create EcoGen, we feed naturally occurring bacteria a sugar that is obtained from non GM modified corn starch.
- These “bugs” digest the sugar and store the resulting PHBV polymer much as the human body would store fat.
- Extracted from the “bug,” the stored “fat” becomes an injection moldable material.
- This material, Enmat®, is then blended with other biodegradable compounds to enhance its ability to process efficiently in standard injection molding machines.
- When exposed to microorganisms in compost or soil, EcoGen decomposes into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
- Extensive scientific testing has established no harmful toxicity from the process or the end product.
- The material’s natural decomposition requires exposure to bacteria commonly found in compost and many soils. So it will not deteriorate in the open air or with ordinary use.
- EcoGen can withstand temperatures of 110 degrees Centigrade / 230 degrees
- Fahrenheit and will last indefinitely under normal conditions.
- EcoGen remains unique, there is one known competitor, believed to be 6 months behind us, and using GM modified crops
The products look real good and also have a nice feel to them. The smell may be a little strange to people at first for it is not the “normal” plastic smell but it is only a very slight one when one takes a very close scrutiny to the objects with one's nose. Those of the readers that use the compostable liners for kitchen waste caddies will be used to the smell which is a little vinegary, though I can never understand why anyone would want to use such bags as they look rather unsightly on one's compost heap and are also rather expensive. Much better just to use the caddies as they are and then wash them as and when needed. Certainly cheaper and better. But back to EcoGen. The smell I mentioned does seem to dissipate somewhat once the items are exposed to air for a few days.
The EcoGen plastic is different to that of the liners in that it composts faster than they do and also that it is an injection moldable one allowing the production of bioplast products that normally require petroleum-based plastics.
I look forward to seeing more products made from this material so that we can compost them in the end rather than having to dump them in landfills or burn them in incinerators. If the latter be for the generation of electricity then it is not too bad but I still rather would see all our plastic products, over time, be replaced by EcoGen plastic products so that, at the end of their life those products can be safely disposed off and then become compost, What a brilliant way to go. Only drawback is here that the archaeologist of the future will have no artifacts to dig up from which to judge what our civilization was like. Not a bad thing either, I guess, as they might get a real bad impression.
The products are made in China but so are most plastic products nowadays and so many other products as well. It is a shame that we do no longer produce things on a more local level but such is the world at present.
From the quality of the products and the fact that the plastic has a slight bit of elasticity I would reckon the items to be virtually unbreakable. Why would you ever want to throw them away, therefore.
I cannot vouch myself, I am afraid, as to the composting time and such as yet as I have no intention of disposing of this set as yet, not even of a single item. It would be a waste of some lovely products.
So, if you are looking for some nice bathroom accessories and want to consider the environment as well then those made by EcoGen of this new kind of plastic would be the right way to go. The sets come in black, blue and white. The white ones used to be exclusive to the stores of the John Lewis Partnership but are now also available everywhere.
If you have any problems finding stockists for the EcoGen range please check out www.homearama.co.uk. The products can be found in this section, where the entire range can be bought.
© M Smith (Veshengro), February 2009
<>
