The PHA and PLA biopolymer combination toothbrush developed by CJ Biomaterials Korea in collaboration with eco-design specialists Revelop has recently won the 2023 German Red Dot Design Award. CJ Biomaterials Korea is a leading producer of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers.
The toothbrush, which is made from a blend of industrially compostable polylactic acid (PLA) and PHA rather than petroleum-based plastics, has enhanced environmental characteristics and was selected as the winner of the Design Concepts discipline of the awards program in the category of "Sustainability".
PHA is a substance formed by microbial fermentation and when discarded under industrial composting conditions it breaks down rapidly and becomes food for microorganisms. Even when incinerated, this material does not release dioxins.
PHA HEAD-UP Toothbrush
The PHA+PLA Lift Up Toothbrush features an 8° angled brush head that effectively dries and maintains hygiene and sterility even when the toothbrush is placed on a surface, which eliminates the need for a toothbrush holder and thus reduces waste. Compared to conventional toothbrushes, this eco-toothbrush reduces waste at the manufacturing stage and weighs 3-4 grams less per unit. Electricity and water consumption are also reduced by 4% and 2% respectively.
Max Senechal, Chief Commercial Officer of CJ Biomaterials Korea, said, "We hope that the Red Dot Design Award recognition will help to promote the benefits of PHA and accelerate the commercialization of PHA-based products by demonstrating their versatility in a variety of end-product applications."
PHA is a unique material, derived from nature and produced sustainably. These materials can be used as building blocks to replace and improve the functional properties of various polymers in the production of finished products or as a starting point for sustainable chemistry.
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PHAs work well as modifiers for other polymers or biopolymers and can be used to increase biobased content, accelerate biodegradation, and improve functional properties of resins and finished products. As one of the few companies capable of producing PHA on a large scale, CJ Biomaterials is committed to taking effective action through its extensive PHA technology platform.
Senechal added that the company has been working on expanding PHA applications, most recently by blending PHA and PLA to develop cosmetic packaging for packaging popular cosmetic brand Korea Nichiman.
CJ Biomaterials has also partnered with a number of companies, including CJ Young & Overy, NatureWorks, Dongil Platech, Hankook-Kimberly, AccorHotels and Banila Co, to expand the use of PHA in the beauty/personal care market, household packaging materials and other applications. In May, following approval in Korea, the company's amorphous PHA was added to the FDA's Food Contact Substances List, allowing it to be used in the U.S. for food packaging materials.
