ZDNet reports that Fujitsu has taken the use of biodegradable plastic beyond picnic ware and household items, and designed a notebook with a biodegradable chassis.

The Fujitsu LifeBook sports a chassis made from a plastic made from cornstarch, rather than petroleum. When it is disposed of, the chassis will decompose in a matter of months, as opposed to decades for standard plastic.

Cornstarch-based plastic results in 15 percent less carbon emissions, experts say. Fujitsu has also used the plastic on mobile phones and point-of-sale terminals.

The LifeBook is currently available only in Japan, but it is likely that similar products will start to appear in the US and Europe. The cost of bio-plastic is expected to decline as companies such as Cereplast and agricultural firm Archer Daniels Midland expand their production.