Pre-poll biodegradeable USB drives

geekgirl is currently in discussion with the leading manufacturer of the world’s first biodegradable USB drive. We’ve been following the flurry of media coverage: and in an effort to monitor our readers’ interest and discover how popular green-friendly geek this really is, please comment or lodge interest by emailing us at geekgirl.

Below is a bit of information about the product being manufactured by Hoshino.

1. This USB Disk is made from a new, biodegradable material which is called Polylactide (PLA). PLA uses annually renewable plant resources (corn) as raw material, which is fermented and distillated to produce lactic acid. Followed by the process of dehydration polymerization, high-temp depolymerization, refining and finally polymerization, lactic acid is then transformed to PLA. Its products can be degraded to carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms in the soil after use and do no harm to the environment.

2. The USB is not completely bio-degradable, just the casing. In the natural environment, it won’t disintegrate if one keeps it for a long time. Only upon contact with soil, it will 71% disintegrate within 108 days.