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Researchers compost old mobile phones & transform them into flowers
Dr Kerry
Kirwan ( Print Version) |
Researchers at the University of Warwick's Warwick Manufacturing
Group, in conjunction with PVAXX Research & Development Ltd,
have devised a novel way to recycle discarded mobile telephones -
bury them and watch them transform into the flower of your
choice.
Mobile telephones are one of the most quickly discarded items of
consumer electronics. Rapid changes in technology and taste means
customers constantly upgrade their phones leaving behind more and
more discarded phones. However there is increasing pressure on all
manufacturers by policy makers to find ways of recycling discarded
goods, and also pressure from some customers who want to feel they
are making an environmentally sensitive purchase. This new research
by engineers in the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University
of Warwick provides a novel way that a mobile telephone
manufacturer can meet these demands.
The University of Warwick team, led by Dr Kerry Kirwan, have worked
with hi tech materials company PVAXX Research and Development Ltd
and Motorola to create a mobile telephone case or cover that when
discarded can simply be placed in compost in such a way that just
weeks later the case will begin to disintegrate and turn into a
flower.
Two researchers have made two key changes to the case or cover of
the mobile to achieve this result:
A special formulation of PVAXX Research and Development Ltd's
biodegradable polymer range was developed in conjunction with
materials researchers at Warwick, that produces a high quality
finish but which also biodegrades easily in compost.
Secondly the engineers at the University of Warwick have created a
small transparent window in the case or cover in which they can
embed a seed. The seed is visible to the environmentally aware
mobile phone user but will not germinate until the phone cover or
case is recycled. The researchers have drawn on the specialised
seed expertise of researchers in the University of Warwick's
horticultural research arm - Warwick HRI - to identify which types
of seeds would perform best in this situation. For the first
prototype telephones they have used dwarf sunflower seeds.
Broadcast pictures and VNR are available: A free broadcast
quality VNR is available via APTN and research-TV see www.research-tv.com/stories/technology/mobilephones/
p>
There is a hi res picture at the top and the bottom of this page (click on the links saying print version.
Here however are some more links to alternative pictures:
www.warwick.ac.uk/services/publicity/Pict/kir3.jpg
www.warwick.ac.uk/services/publicity/Pict/kir4.jpg
www.warwick.ac.uk/services/publicity/Pict/kir5.jpg
www.warwick.ac.uk/services/publicity/Pict/kir6.jpg
www.warwick.ac.uk/services/publicity/Pict/kir7.jpg
For further information please contact:
Dr Kerry Kirwan, IARC, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL.
Tel: - 02476 528444, email: - kerry.kirwan@warwick.ac.uk
Peter Morris, PVAXX R&D Ltd., Barnsley Park Estate, Nr
Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 5EG. Tel: - 01285 740100. email:
- pmorris@pvaxx.com
Peter Dunn, Press and Media Relations Manager
University of Warwick p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Tel: 024 76 523708
PR114 PJD 30th November 2004
Dr Kerry Kirwan
(left) with Dan Jacobs (right) and Peter Morris (bottom
centre) ( Print Version) |