All of us, if we are honest, will admit to at least a twinge of fear that our world may be at a tipping point unbalanced by our own style of life. That twinge of apprehension recurs with each abnormality in the weather. And like the weather, everyone talks about damage to our ecosystem but we all feel relatively powerless to do much about it. Until now. With EcoGenTM homewares, Design Ideas® introduces the first of many durable and affordable household products made entirely from a biodegradable, injection molded material developed from renewable resources.
EcoGen empowers retailers and consumers to begin the transition away from the old era of petroleum based plastics towards a new ecological generation of biodegradable household materials. In the back of our minds, we all know the statistics: 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 EcoGenTM, will biodegrade in six to nine months when composted.
The science behind EcoGen is a polymer called PHBV (poly-3-hydroxy butyrate-co-valerate), a derivative of the molecule that Forbes magazine declared “one of the five molecules that will change the world.” Fittingly, EcoGen is the product of a worldwide team of scientists, engineers and designers. First developed by British scientists in the late 1980s, recent patented improvements in fermentation technology by Dr. Xeujun Chen allow for the cost-effective production of PHBV. To create practical household applications using this biodegradable material, Design Ideas enlisted the expertise of Professor Hans Maier-Aichen, an award winning plastics designer. Professor Maier-Aichen leads a team of engineers in Europe, China and America.
The science is deceptively simple: To create EcoGen, we feed naturally occurring bacteria sugar that is obtained from 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 joins a growing family of products made from innovative materials first introduced by Design Ideas including EVA foam, Window Gel, expanded metal mesh and most recently Ecotwine. For over two decades Design Ideas has developed fun, functional and affordable items for every room in the home. EcoGen marks the start of a new ecological generation and a small but significant step towards a more sustainable way of life.
