Press Release

NEW DISC TO HELP FIGHT GLOBAL E-WASTE

2nd March 2010

An Australian company is producing a “green-friendly” DVD that will help combat both global warming and landfill created as a part of the global e-waste problem.

Produced by Ecodisc Limited, the EcoDisc is thinner, lighter and more flexible than normal DVDs, and as such requires 50% less energy to manufacture. It is also manufactured with 50% less polycarbonate and doesn’t contain the toxic bonders that are common in discs.

Not only this, but the EcoDisc is an easy-to-recycle product – unlike the millions of DVDs and CDs that currently make up a proportion of e-waste landfill because there is no viable recycling options.

Peter Scicluna, Executive Director of Ecodisc Limited, says he believes that green initiatives should start at any level.

“People may ask why we decided to ‘green’ the DVD when, individually, they might seem fairly insignificant when compared to the environmental problems created by cars or power stations,” he says.

“Collectively, there are billions of DVDs and CD’s in the world and eventually they will all get thrown out. Just think of the volume created not only by consumers, but business and government collectively.

“Their manufacture creates more waste, both from a carbon and a chemical usage point-of-view.

“If we can improve industries and products, one at a time, with new methods and techniques that are environmentally friendly, we’ll be well on our way to repairing many of the problems we’re experiencing with the planet at the moment.

“I think environmental progress is going to come from a combination of individuals and companies who are putting forward initiatives that are embraced by the public that are in harmony with the government environmental strategies.”

At the moment Ecodisc Limited are only producing an environmentally friendly DVD, however, a CD and CD-ROM with similar green credentials should be produced by the end of 2010.

The company will also offer a centralised disc repair service that will help to prevent products from being thrown out prematurely.

“The EcoDisc is essentially about changing the habits of a culture that’s based around consumption and disposal because of the lack of any viable alternative,” Mr Scicluna says.

“Our repair service will allow people to save movies, games and data that they might have thought to have been lost due to disc damage. EcoDisc DVDs and CDs will be able to be sent to processing facilities to be recycled and used again.”

According to Mr Scicluna, the introduction of the product into the market will encourage others to think about other ways to be environmentally friendly.

“Whilst the EcoDisc itself has environmental benefits, the proliferation of this product will serve as a reminder to people about little things in their life that can be done more sustainably,” he says.

“Green thinking perpetuates green actions – and I believe EcoDisc can serve as a catalyst for this.”

For more information on Ecodisc Products contact Glen Whiteman on 0424 059 545 or Peter Scicluna on 0408 418 995.

For an EcoDisc sampler please or visit www.ecodisc.com.au

ENDS

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