FMV Biblo NB80K – Fujitsu’s Green PC?

Are you looking for a new laptop that is great in function but also healthy for the environment? With warnings of global warming ever more prevalent in today’s media, you are not alone in your quest for environmentally safer products. Well Fujitsu may just have the answer! They have announced that they are teaming up with Toray Industries to make an eco friendly laptop casing for the FMV Biblo NB80K notebook.

This is not the first time Fujitsu has created a environmentally friendly laptop casing. In 2002, they released their small FMV Biblo that used polylactic acid (PLA) which is biodegradable.

The new FMV Biblo NB80K laptop is set to be released in Spring of 2005 and uses 50% PLA as well as an amorphous plastic that was developed with the help of Toray and their “Ecodear” biodegradable plastics. In addition to being biodegradable, the notebook also has a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 15% and the casing is more heat resistant and flame retardant.

The average lifespan of a computer is only 3 to 5 years. What happens to most of these old computers when they are retired? Unfortunately some end up in landfills worldwide. Chemicals used in manufacturing (including lead) are toxic and can seep into the ground, causing long term pollution. This is what Fujitsu and Toray are working to avoid.

In an article for Japan Today Sonny Ashimori, a Kansai based computer expert had this to say:

“…..It’s a conspiracy alright…..Computer manufacturers intentionally support the disposable cycle. A car lasts for 10 years. Why can’t they develop a computer that you can use for 10 years?…..”

So what is so great about the FMV Biblo NB80K laptop casing? Well, the plastic contains 50% natural products which mean less petroleum resources. The PLA is plant based; it can be extracted from corn and other plants.

Past attempts to use this technology for notebooks proved hard because the plastic was difficult to mold. With Fujitsu and Toray Industries pooling their resources, they were able to find a way to make the plastic more malleable for mass production.

We don’t know what the future will bring, but hats off to both Fujitsu and Toray for looking out for the safety of our planet, as well as our consumer needs for cutting edge design, and technology.

By Lucy Layman

Wednesday, January 26, 2005