Bioplastic Toys On The Horizon
NEWS.COM: Green Toys makes kiddie stuff from bioplasticPosted by Martin LaMonica
July 30, 2007 7:10 AM PDT
First came the biodegradable fork, then the compostable coffee cup, and now "earth friendly" toys.
Green Toys said Friday that it will introduce a line of bioplastic toys in the fall. The first toys are classics aimed at babies and toddlers: a tea set, cookware, an indoor gardening kit, and the old shovel and pail.
What sets these colorful plastics apart are what they're made of. Instead of using petroleum-basic plastics, Green Toys is using plastics made from corn starch and other vegetables.
Bioplastics company Cereplast is supplying the plastics to Green Toys. It will also provide NatureWorks plastic, which is made from poly lactic acid (PLA), another corn-based product.
Green Toys, which is exhibiting its gear at San Francisco International Gift Fair this week, is pitching its classic line of toys on their "greeness." Even the colorants used in the toys are biodegradable, supplied by PolyOne.
Bioplastics are becoming trendy. In addition to Cereplast, other companies are investing in similar technologies, including Metabolix. Brazilian chemical company Braskem has committed to making a version of polyethylene from sugar cane by late 2009.
Advocates say that bioplastics are better for the environment because they're made from renewable resources, like corn, rather than oil. And products can decompose within months, compared to decades like traditional plastics.
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We use corn-plastic cups and utensils at work, so I've been thinking about making a limited-edition "Green Beaver" made from corn. Sounds like my timing might be good!
Labels: 00s toy, article, bioplastics, green tech, green toys, news.com, toys
posted by Jeff Pidgeon at
4:28 PM
4 Comments:
I love this. I'm digging this trend towards compostable and biodegradable plastics. The other day I used a spoon made from potatoes, and we just switched to bio bags for our trash, which are made from corn.
I like it too! I hope the materials and prices are conducive to the beaver assembly process - I'd really like to be able to do it!
Wait, they biodegrade in months? Ack. Buckets and shovels are constantly subjected to moisture and soil, so they'll have decomposed before you can get much use out of them!
This is from the Green Toys website:
Q: Will the Green Toys brand product ever decompose or degrade on the shelf or inside the home?
A: No way. Green Toys brand toys are very durable on store shelves and in the home. Your little ones can look forward to a long, happy relationship with them.
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