A design competition has been launched to create a new symbol to represent bioplastics and indicate the product is made from green, bio-based material.
The “Make Your Mark” contest will find an iconic design to help consumers easily identify ecologically sound goods from petroleum-based products.
The scheme is being organised by bio-based plastic manufacturer Cereplast, who hope the new green product logo will become as instantly distinguishable as the globally recognised recycling symbol.
"This competition represents our commitment to educating and helping consumers make smarter purchasing decisions that help preserve and protect our environment," said Frederic Scheer, chairman and CEO of Cereplast.
"Companies are increasingly looking at bio-based plastics made from renewable resources like corn, wheat, and algae as an alternative to petroleum-sourced plastics in order to meet soaring consumer demand for economically and ecologically sound, 'green' products.
“The bioplastics symbol will enable consumers to easily identify products made from bioplastics, similar to the globally recognized recycling symbol we see on thousands of plastic products."
“Make Your Mark” design entries can be submitted via www.iizuu.com/cereplast, where the official rules and guidelines are also posted.
The Make Your Mark bioplastics symbol contest is open to legal residents of the United States. Entrants are required to submit a symbol design that, when stamped on a product, will clearly serve as an indication that the product is made from bioplastics.
This new symbol will serve in a similar fashion to how the recycling symbol is used to identify products that are made from recycled materials and/or are recyclable.
It is mandatory for the design to have the ability to be "single-color," or colorless, and easily identifiable. Design submissions need to include three variations to symbolize the end of life options for the product—whether to compost or recycle it. The three variations include: a general bioplastics symbol; a version identifying compostability; and a version indicating recyclability.
The deadline for Make Your Mark design entries is March 4 andhe top 50 entries will be determined based on a public voting system available at www.iizuu.com/cereplast.
The judging panel will select the top three designs and the winner will be announced on Earth Day Eve, April 21, 2011, at a gala event in Los Angeles, California, in honour of the internationally celebrated Earth Day. The designer of the winning bioplastics symbol will receive $25,000.
Forty-one years ago, Gary Anderson won the competition that produced the globally recognized recycling symbol still seen on recycled and recyclable products today. Mr Anderson and industrial designer Karim Rashid are among the panel of renowned judges.
Janette Burke, Essex around 1 year, 4 months ago