Fujitsu develops biodegradable laptop

Fujitsu has developed a laptop with a biodegradable chassis - the Fujitsu LifeBook - and released the model in Japan.

The chassis is made from a cornstarch-based plastic which will decompose within months, substantially quicker than traditional plastics which can take decades to break down.

Cornstarch-based plastics release 15 per cent less carbon emissions than traditional plastics which are made from non-renewable materials, including oil, coal and natural gas.

Fujitsu has also manufactured mobile phones and point-of-sale terminals with the biodegradable plastic.

Although bio-plastics have been available for several years they have not replaced traditional plastics due to their high cost. The price is expected to come down as manufacturers such as Cereplast increase their production.

Although the Lifebook is currently only available in Japan, similar products could soon be available in Europe and the US.