Issue 04/2016

Application News
FORMcard
www.formcard.co
Formcard is a project that was successfully funded on Kickstarter on the 6 th December with over 2,000 backers and 816 %
funding.
The product is a handy, pocket sized card of strong, meltable biopolastic that can be used to make, fix and modify virtually
anything in everyday life. It just needs to be droped it in a cup of hot water and it’s ready to use. “Everyone should keep one in
their wallet, toolbox or kitchen drawer so that it’s always around when you need to fix something,” says Peter Marigold, founder
of Formcard.
FORMcards are instant. When they are cool, they are ready to use to fix things quickly in emergency situations, like when a
handle breaks on a tool, or a button falls off the jacket. The material is strong like nylon, as the inventor states, so it can be
used for long lasting solutions. When very hot the material sticks well to other plastics, which is good for repairing things, such
as broken plastic toys, tools or anything you may think of.
FORMcards are reusable, so if you something does not fulfil the expectations or is no longer needed it can just be molten
back down again. Great for making toys when the kids grow up.
The handy cards can be used anywhere where hot water is available. In a cafe to fix a broken umbrella, or around a campfire
to fix a broken tent pole. The material can be used to make tool covers... fix plastic shovels... it’s even strong enough to make
a basic wrench in an emergency!
FORMcards are made from a starch based bio-plastic that is totally non-toxic. Peter has worked closely with both the chemical
company, the moulders and even the colorant suppliers to ensure this is the case, even to go as far as rejecting the easy use
of universal pigments which contain styrenes in favour of powder
pigments. “This is messier for us, but better for you and everyone
else,“ as Peter points out. And he is proud that his FORMcards are
produced entirely in the U.K. MT
Biobased Ring Binders
At the United Soybean Board’s Biobased Stakeholders’ Dialogue held at the USDA headquarters Samsill Corporation
presented its new Earth’s Choice Biobased ring binders.
The company from Fort Worth, Texas, USA, joined Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and an array of biobased stakeholders
earlier this month in Washington, D.C. at the United Soybean Board’s Biobased Stakeholders’ Dialogue held at the USDA
headquarters.
Samsill displayed its new Earth’s Choice Biobased ring binders. The company combined 100 % post-consumer recycled
chipboard - with plastic containing 25 % of Green Polyethylene, a bioplastic made from sugarcane ethanol, a 100 % renewable
source which promotes the reduction of greenhouse gasses. The finished product is at least 69 % bio-based (tested using
ASTM D-6866) and is a USDA Certified Bio-based Product.
“At Samsill, we are committed to educating consumers and delivering new and unique biobased
products to a wide range of consumer markets. We are excited to participate in the Biobased
Stakeholder’s Dialogue and thank the United Soybean Board for hosting such an important
event.” explained Drew Bowers, VP of Marketing at Samsill.
Earlier versions of the Earth’s Choice binder were marketed as “biodegradable with
a polypropylene cover formulated to biodegrade in microbial landfill”. However, Drew
recognized the downsides of using additive induced “landfill-degradable” plastics,
which is a good approach. “We have always felt and still do that biobased i. e. the the
origin of the raw material is more important to help us making a better sustainable
product. Companies like Coca-Cola have done a great job marketing this feature and
helping to educate consumers,” Drew said to bioplastics MAGAZINE MT
www.samsill.com
20 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/16] Vol. 11