Electronics giant NEC (Tokyo / Japan; www.nec.com) has developed a durable biomass-based plastic produced from non-edible plant resources. The bioplastic is created by bonding cellulose with cardanol, an oil-like material extracted from cashew nut shells, achieving a level of durability that is suitable for electronic equipment and with a plant content ratio of over 70%. Alternative cellulose-based plastics can include large amounts of petroleum-based additives, which results in a low plant component ratio. The raw materials are abundant resources that are often discarded by-products in agriculture.

The new thermoplastic is strong, heat resistant, water resistant and non-crystalline, due to the bonded cardanol’s molecular structure that consists of flexible and rigid parts. The company says it will continue to develop the bioplastic to improve its suitability for a wide range of electronic equipment with the aim of achieving mass production in 2013.