SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. 24.September.2003 SANYO Produces World First Bio-Plastic Vegetable Derived Optical Disk 10 disks made from one ear of corn

Please Click Here for Large Photo Tokyo, September 24, 2003--- SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. announces the world's first optical disk comprised from polylactic acid derived from corn. The "MildDisk" is the world's first optical disk to be commercialized using polylactic acid. With estimates of world wide disk demand at 10 billion*1 producing and disposing of conventional polycarbonate disks burden the environment. Polycarbonate is lightweight, strong, heat-resistant and transparent, thus an ideal material for disks, however a special facility is needed to generate and withstand the great heat that is necessary to burn and dispose of the polycarbonate disks. This process gives concern to air pollution. Because conventional polycarbonate disks aren't biodegradable they cause a pile up when buried in landfills. In keeping with SANYO's corporate slogan "We care for people and the earth" the "MildDisk" is not only biodegradable, but also derived from corn, a renewable resource. The 'MildDisk' will be used for music CD's, CD-ROM's and Video CD's. SANYO will be receiving orders from December 2003. *1 According to Optical Media Conference October 2002

Main features

(1) World first bio-plastic (polylactic acid) optical disk With cooperative development from Mitsui Chemicals Inc., SANYO achieved the world's first bio-plastic (polylactic acid) optical disk. Succeeded in this development with a wealth of know how and highly precise technology, used corn as base material to derive polylactic acid*2 with its optical property and exact structure. Roughly 85 corn kernels is needed to make one disk and one ear of corn to make 10 disks*3. The world corn production is about 600 million tons, less than 0.1% is needed to make 10 billion disks. *2 Cargill Dow LLC. processes the corn to polylactic acid *3 Calculated based on one corn kernel equals 0.5 g (dried) (2) Conserves resources and biodegradable thus reducing environmental burden The MildDisk unlike polycarbonate disks have biodegradable properties that allow it to be broken down into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms in the ground, helping to solve waste disposal problems. The release of carbon dioxide does not increase the atmospheric carbon dioxide because it is part of vegetation. By using a renewable resource that is biodegradable lessens the environmental burden. Like paper or wood when burning the heat generated is low, and doesn't release any harmful dioxins. (3) Environment friendly package Not only the disk but also the CD case and packaging film is composed of natural materials, so the disk and case can be disposed of in the burnable section of waste.

Other Features

GreenPla® mark (in process of application) Plan to place a GreenPla mark on our product to differentiate from other plastic products and appeal to customers that this is an environment friendly product. We have fulfilled the requirements for the mark and the application is in process to be recognized as a GreenPla product. ®GreenPla is trademark of Biodegradable Plastics Society The mild disk is comparable in durability with the polycarbonate disk. Vegetable derived plastic is durable in natural environment conditions will decompose only after a long time and very slowly. For use in regular temperatures there is no problem with durability. (For related information regarding polylactic acid material) Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Polymer Business Development Division LACEA-G Tokyo Chiyoda Kasumigaseki 3-2-5 Kasumigaseki Bld. Tel 03-3592-4479 Fax 03-3592-4268

Specifications

Diameter 120.0mm Thickness 1.2mm Weight 16.3g Base Material Polylactic (Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. 'LACEA') Reflective material Aluminum Protective coating Ultraviolet rays hardening acrylic resin Label printing Ultraviolet rays hardening ink Usable conditions -20°C~+50°C Others Conformity with CD standards

For Press Contact

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. Corporate Communications Unit Media Relations Team Tel: (03) 3837-6206 Fax: (03) 3837-6381 E-mail: tokyo-pr@svnet.sannet.ne.jp

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