New biodegradable keyboard from Fujitsu

The keyboard base mouldings supplied by Amper are injection moulded in the Biograde C 7500 CL cellulose ester compound from biodegradable plastic compounds producer FKuR.

Ampler also moulds the “warm-feel” palm rest for the Fujitsu keyboard in Arboform, a colourable biodegradable lignin-based plastic with “polystyrene-like” properties. The plastic is produced with lignin sourced from waste wood and paper from compound producer Tecnaro.

These two renewable plastic materials account for 45% of the plastic content of the new keyboard, says Fujitsu. The keyboard’s USB cable is also made of “PVC-free” plastic. According to Amper, the concept allows Fujitsu to replace 60 tonnes/year of conventional plastics with biodegradable materials.

Rajat Kakar, VP of clients group at Fujitsu Technical Solutions, says that as the new high-grade keyboard has the same price as a keyboard made of conventional plastics, “we are making it easy for users to decide in favour of the environment”.

The outer appearance of the keyboard is indistinguishable from one made entirely from conventional ABS plastic, which is still used for the laser printed key caps and the upper housing. Sigrun Harsch Senior Manager Public Relations, Corporate Communications at Fujitsu Technology Solutions told EPN ,however: "We are working on changing the remaining parts, so that a keyboard can be offered in future that consists of 100% renewable raw materials."