Bio-Based Polymers

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a resin that is synthesized by fermenting the raw plant material (biomass) that has been fixed within living plants such as corn and potatoes by photosynthesis. PLA is biodegradable and does not generate harmful gases during combustion. Also, because it is derived from plants, it can be produced using only small amounts of fossil fuel. PLA, therefore, is a material with a low environmental burden. We developed a PLA-based material for the housings of notebook computers using flameproofing and polymer-alloy technologies. This material has optimal physical properties for use in notebook computer housings. We use this material in the FMV-BIBLO NB notebook computer that went on sale in January 2005. This paper describes the development of this material and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluation.