Cereplast contest seeks new bioplastics symbol in U.S.

Bioplastics producer Cereplast, Inc. is launching a design competition in the U.S. aimed to develop a symbol to indicate that a product is made from “green,” bio-based material, not petroleum-based material.

“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,” said Frederic Scheer, chairman and CEO of the El Segundo, Calif.-based Cereplast. “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.”

The judges – among them the designer who crafted the globally recognized recycling symbol – 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, Scheer continued. The designer of the winning bioplastics symbol will receive US$25,000.

The contest is open to legal residents of the U.S. only.