CB2 biodegradable bath accessories
September 26th, 2009
These wouldn’t really work in my 1920s bathroom, but I think the science behind CB2′s biodegradable bath accessories is pretty fascinating. Made of EcoGen, the trademarked name for bio-plastic PHBV, the products will break down in six to nine months in soil or compost, leaving nothing behind but carbon dioxide, water, and biomass. No fear of a melted toothbrush holder on your sink, though; according to the CB2 website, they “will last indefinitely under normal conditions.” Obviously they haven’t seen my bathroom (kidding)!
But what is PHBV, exactly? A polymer derivative of one of the five molecules Forbes magazine said back in 2003 would “change the world,” there’s not a lot of information out there other than on the EcoGen website, probably because the material is so new. There’s not even a Wikipedia entry for it yet! (All you chemistry whizzes, get cracking.)
I’m happy to see CB2 specify that the products must be placed in soil or compost in order to biodegrade; a lot of the so-called “green” plastics out there, like BioBags and those containers that vegetables are packed in at Trader Joe’s, give the impression that merely tossing these products in the trash will allow them to magically transform into soil, which they will not. Once locked in a landfill and deprived of oxygen, they will not break down any faster than petroleum-based plastic.
I also wonder about what will happen if we as a society, instead of learning how to truly reduce consumption and consumerism and invest in products made to last generations (or reuse the ones we already have), merely substitute disposable “green” products for disposable petroleum-based ones. Or maybe we don’t have to change our habits after all — perhaps science will be our savior.
–Jennifer Grayson
Do this now: Want to ensure that the biodegradable products you buy will truly break down? Learn how to compost. Here’s an easy guide to get you started.
Related posts:
Green goods
Thinking outside the box
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August 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Biodegradable plastic and packaging is a modern necessity for our ever-endangered environment.
Now PLA has been used to line the indoors of Paper Cups in place of the oil based lining additional usually used, create Plastic Cups, Plates, Carrier Bags, Food Packaging and even Nappies.
Eco Pure is our proprietary blend of organic materials that does not modify the base resin to which it is added.
Thanks a lot for your information