Starting from these dates, we decided to focus on an eco-design project: more than 1.5 billion new mobile phones are purchased yearly. The average life of a smartphone is, in fact, only 22 months. Then, it is replaced. And much more often, cell phone covers are changed. A practice that exponentially increases the consumption of plastic, which then cannot be completely recycled. A 100% biodegradable smartphone cover is the solution.
Plastic waste management is a global issue with serious repercussions, especially for our oceans. Scientists have estimated that since we started making plastics, 79% have ended up in landfills or the natural environment. Most of this plastic then forms micro-particles that seriously endanger ecosystems.
An eco-design project of biodegradable cover for the environment
Our Industrial Design Company have decided to make our contribution to stem the problem. With the startup Najture we have developed the first fully biodegradable and compostable phone case. Most phone cases are made of elastomers. A material with good technical characteristics but not wholly biodegradable. Our goal was instead to create a 100% biodegradable phone case. There are currently no soft materials that meet this requirement.
Similar initiatives on the market do not guarantee 100% biodegradability, even if misleading indications are reported on the labels. According to the latest Greenpeace report on biodegradable plastics, it appears that “product descriptions often use false, misleading or unproven information”.
Our solution, Najture, is instead composed of natural cork and 100% biodegradable rigid plastic. The cork acts as a natural shock absorber and is glued to the plastic using a biodegradable adhesive. The quality of the IamNature® biopolymer is also demonstrated by the “Bioplastics Award”, received for its high technical performance. It is biobased and biodegradable (EU standard EN 13432). Plastic is synthesised by bacterial fermentation and degrades in soil and water.
Sustainable design for the reduction of CO2 emissions
Biodegradable plastic is helpful for the end of the life cycle of a product. But if we take a closer look at the problem, we must be aware of our impact on the world. If we consider the entire life cycle of a product, we understand that the use of biodegradable plastic is not the only solution to the global problem of disposable items. A paradigm shift is needed. As a designer, we want to think better about how to make products to reduce CO2 emissions due to the extraction of the raw material, production, transport and disposal of the product.