Just because you love gadgets does not mean you throw all caution to the wind when it comes to being environmentally friendly, does it? Indeed, more and more, developments in the realm of technology include Mother Earth in the list of considerations. After all, it is only to our own benefit to do so.
Now take a look at that image again. Hard as it may be to believe, that is not entirely made of plastic! The casing is actually made of recycled paper and polypropylene alloy. True, polypropylene is still considered a plastic, but with the incorporation of recycled paper, the use of plastic is significantly reduced. And you don’t even have to worry all that much about the trees as the paper used is recycled. Can you think of a better way to get rid of the stacks of paper that you have lying around the house?
This technology is the brainchild of PEGA Consulting Group ((PEGA)), which was showcased at the Milan Furniture Fair. More than being environmentally friendly – everyone claims this about their products these days anyway – is there anything else that points to the success of this new material for casings for gadgets?
Definitely. One may think that paper is too fragile, especially for electronic devices that may be exposed to a lot of wear and tear. However, the resulting alloy has properties which allow it to perform as good as – or even better than – the plastics used today. The Paper PP Alloy is strong, sturdy, and yet flexible.
On the consumer side, the development of the Paper PP Alloy means lessening our individual carbon footprint and yet getting value for our money. According to PEGA, the materials and processes used to create the alloy are not expensive, so this might mean savings on our part. I am not too sure about that, though. One thing is for sure – the manufacturers do not have to make major changes in their processes since the current injection molding method can still be used with the alloy.
It does not come as a surprise that the group has already received an award for this development. It should also not come as a surprise to us if we see gadgets using this material for their casing in the near future. Oh, and in case you really are into good – and environment friendly – design, you really ought to browse PEGA’s web site. It is a veritable treasure trove of eye candy!