Good heavens, we would never have guessed what wily scientists can trick bacteria into doing these days! It seems like the little buggers (bacteria, not scientists) can be cajoled into producing non-toxic compostable plastics that will last indefinitely if you don't bury them in the dirt. Then these plastics are injection molded into cute, design-y bathroom containers with a classic matte finish.

They're going to look great perched upon your sink. (The containers, not the scientists or the bacteria.) Hats off, scientists! Hats off, bacteria! Hats off, you!

The science behind EcoGen is a polymer called PHBV (poly-3-hydroxy butyrate-co-valerate), a derivative of the molecule that Forbes magazine declared “one of the five molecules that will change the world.” Fittingly, EcoGen is the product of a worldwide team of scientists, engineers and designers. First developed by British scientists in the late 1980s, recent patented improvements in fermentation technology by Dr. Xeujun Chen allow for the cost-effective production of PHBV. To create practical household applications using this biodegradable material, Design Ideas enlisted the expertise of Professor Hans Maier-Aichen, an award winning plastics designer. Professor Maier-Aichen leads a team of engineers in Europe, China and America.

The science is deceptively simple: To create EcoGen, we feed naturally occurring bacteria sugar that is obtained from corn starch. These "bugs" digest the sugar and store the resulting PHBV polymer much as the human body would store fat. Extracted from the "bug," the stored "fat" becomes an injection moldable material. This material, Enmat®, is then blended with other biodegradable compounds to enhance its ability to process efficiently in standard injection molding machines. When exposed to microorganisms in compost or soil, EcoGen decomposes into carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Extensive scientific testing has established no harmful toxicity from the process or the end product.

The material's natural decomposition requires exposure to bacteria commonly found in compost and many soils. So it will not deteriorate in the open air or with ordinary use. EcoGen can withstand temperatures of 110 degrees Centigrade / 230 degrees Fahrenheit and will last indefinitely under normal conditions.