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Engineering Materials

Engineering materials is a discussion led by Design News Contributing Materials Editor Doug Smock on important new developments and applications that affect mechanical design. Metals covered include all types of steel and nonferrous metals, in all shapes. Resins covered include nylons, polycarbonates, polysulfides, polyimides, and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Other materials covered include ceramics and rubber. Topics covered include materials  enhancement, new applications, process technology, tooling,  sustainability, and economic issues. Posts will include latest news from global events such as K 2007, the Alliance of Plastics Processors Annual Conference, the National Plastics Exposition, and the annual technical conference (ANTEC) of the Society of Plastics Engineers.


Monday, July 30, 2007

Biobased Toys Look Like Winners

Jul 30 2007 8:30AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (3) |
Blog This! using: Blogger.com | LiveJournal |

I have never been a big fan of biodegradable plastics, primarily because of what I consider bogus marketing. There is no environmental advantage to biodegradable packaging unless you’re the type who throws wrappers out of your car window. Properly run landfills are anaerobic. That is, they have no air or water because material degradation is an environmental problem. Chemicals leach into aquifers or form methane gases that contribute to global warming.

 

A company called Green Toys is now launching toys made from biodegradable plastic. Their pitch is simple and fair: plastics made from corn or potatoes use less energy to produce than plastics made from oil. There is no documentation of that claim on their Web site, however, and there should be because fuel made from corn (ethanol) may consume more petroleum than it saves. Furthermore, Green Toys use biodegradable colorants supplied by PolyOne Corp. That sounds like a real winner.

 

Green Toys also uses packaging made from recycled materials. Again another real score.

Related entries in: Design News | 




at 8/9/2007 12:04:00 PM, Chas. Colburn said:
Doug, Thanks for your analysis of the Green Toys Company''s products. There will be many people and companies jumping on the ''green bandwagon'' and your separation of the real green vs. the fake green aspects will help keep the green movement on track. Cheap petroleum is a problem and the real cost of it''s use is many times hidden from consumers in this exact way. Keep up the good work, Chas.

at 10/6/2007 4:07:27 AM, Milly said:
So many cute and latest toys are available on most discounted prices here at Couponalbum.com..........I mostly shop here and get discounts on every purchase. It is full of best offers related to the baby toys and accessories.......!!

at 12/21/2007 7:02:13 PM, Igor said:
great post. thank you. i hope you dont mind me mentioning your site on mine. 31915.com thanks for the quick info. good luck.

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