A toothbrush developed in a collaboration between PHA producer CJ Biomaterials, Inc., a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang, and Revelop, an eco-friendly design specialist has earned a German 2023 Red Dot Design Award, the companies announced. The new Head-Up Toothbrush, made with a blend of industrially compostable polylactic acid (PLA) and PHA, was selected as the winner in the “Sustainable” category in the Design Concept discipline in the awards program.
The PHA Head-Up Toothbrush features an 8° angled brush head, which allows the toothbrush to efficiently dry and remain hygienic and bacteria-free, even when resting on a surface—also eliminating the need for a separate toothbrush holder or steriliser.
“We hope recognition in the Red Dot Design Award will help to promote the advantages of PHA and accelerate the commercialization of PHA-based products by demonstrating the versatility of its applications in various end products,” says Max Senechal, Chief Commercial Officer of CJ Biomaterials.
PHA materials are a family of biopolyesters produced in nature by numerous microorganisms through the fermentation of sugars or lipids in the form of granules that serve as a source of energy.
They can be used as building blocks to replace and improve the functional characteristics of a broad range of polymers in the production of finished goods or as starting points for sustainable chemistry. PHAs work well as modifiers to other polymers or biopolymers and can be used to increase bio-based content, accelerate biodegradation and improve the functional properties of resins and finished products.
CJ Biomaterials is one of the few companies successfully able to mass produce PHA. The company, said Senechal, is continuously working to expand the application of PHA, and has recently developing cosmetic packaging by blending PHA and PLA, which is being used to package the popular cosmetic brand Riman Incellderm. the company’s amorphous PHA was also added to the FDA’s inventory of Food Contact Substances in May of this year, allowing it to be used in food packaging materials in the United States, following approval previously granted in Korea.