Bio-on's commitment to developing special grades of PHA entirely dedicated to toys began in
2014, based on an awareness of the complete sustainability of its platform product called
minerv PHA, and of its total safe use in contact with the human body, through the skin or biological fluids such as saliva and lacrimal fluid. The rigorous scientific approach that has always distinguished the development of all standard grades of
minerv PHA by Bio-on, ensured by close scientific collaborations with polymer science and technology experts, particularly with the laboratories directed by Prof. P. Fabbri at the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering at the University of Bologna, has been applied in its most rigorous form yet to the
Minerv PHA Supertoys Research project.
The biocompatibility of poly(hydroxyalkanoates) was studied and confirmed several years ago, but Bio-on's determination today to develop innovative materials that pose no risk from direct use by our children has driven the
launch of this advanced research project aimed at designing and making
minerv PHA-based formulations specifically dedicated to the manufacture of toys and that fully meet the
Essential Safety Requirements laid down in the
TDS.
The first results of Bio-on's commitment to the toys sector are available from today.
The
Minerv PHA Supertoys special grade has been created in its first formulation, completely devoid of any chemical substance prohibited or restricted by Directive 2009/48/EC. This innovative material has also been used to make the
Minerv PHA Supertoys building bricks, similar to LEGO bricks,
which use extremely high quality standards and represent a major hallmark of quality in the world.
The
Minerv PHA Supertoys special grade contains no substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction; it also contains no prohibited or restricted flavourings; the colours are made using master batches suitable for toys and contact with food.
The ductility of the grades developed is modulated through the intrinsic properties of the
Minerv PHA platform product, without the use of huge quantities of plasticizers and the complete absence of phthalates. For the first time in the world, a rigid material can also be flexible when under stress. The perception is of having two functionalities in a single type of material. A new sensation.
Toys made with the
Minerv PHA Supertoys grade comply with all hygiene requirements because they can be repeatedly washed with hot or cold water.
The
Minerv PHA Supertoys research and industrial development project began in 2014, and will proceed in three main areas:
-
continual improvement of Minerv PHA Supertoys grades, in a bid to find increasingly better properties for the toys and total safety for our children, in full compliance with EU regulations;
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improvement of the processing technology of Minerv PHA Supertoys grades, in order to manufacture toys with increasingly advanced functional, aesthetic and precision characteristics, beginning with the considerable results always achieved thanks to the partnerships with Bio-on;
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sharing and communication of results with the public through press releases, articles in specialist media and dedicated events.
Bio-on, the designer and Team Leader in the generation and realisation of this research project, intends to involve all companies or researchers that will have proposals to be verified and that are capable of improving the quality standard of this new platform product dedicated to toys from around the world.
The platform created by
Bio-on for toys envisages sharing technology and coordinating objectives in order to be able to define and realise important research and development projects increasingly quickly.
The research and development phase of the
Minerv PHA Supertoys project has no commercial goal and aims solely to demonstrate whether or not specific, eco-sustainable and completely biodegradable formulations can be created for making toys that are safe for people and the environment, without losing out on the end product's functionality and aesthetic.