Scientists Make Phone That Turns Into a Sunflower - environmental phones

[Dover]

Scientists Make Phone That Turns Into a Sunflower

Mon Dec 6,12:27 PM ET Science - Reuters

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Scientists said on Monday they have come up with a cell phone cover that will grow into a sunflower when thrown away.

Materials company Pvaxx Research & Development, at the request of U.S.-based mobile phone maker Motorola (NYSE:MOT - news), has come up with a polymer that looks like any other plastic, but which degrades into soil when discarded.

Researchers at the University of Warwick in Britain then helped to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed, which will feed on the nitrates that are formed when the polyvinylalcohol polymer cover turns to waste.

"It's a totally biodegradable and non-toxic plastic," said Pvaxx spokesman Peter Morris.

"This is the first product that we've made public. We're working with blue chip companies and will introduce several products next year," he said, adding it would be used in electronics, horticulture, ammunition and household cleaning.

The company's new plastic, which was created over the past five years but was in development for longer, can be rigid or flexible in shape...cont'd

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=570&ncid=753&e=1&u=/nm/20041206/sc_nm/tech_mobilephonecover_biodegradable_dc

[Buzz Clik]

1. uh huh. And the battery?

Maybe the phone will run off of two potatoes with electrodes in them.



The disposal Spud Phone.

[Mistwell]

2. Just the case?

I think this is just the case that is biodegradable. The internals of the phone are probably still relatively toxic. Anyone know if that is correct?

Also, I wonder if the case will last as long as a normal one. I would hate to have my phone start to shed after a couple of years...