The Japanese company has developed a disc made from material based on corn starch

Japanese home electronics company Pioneer has developed a biodegradable DVD. The material, based on corn starch, could be significantly less expensive than current polycarbonate DVDs, once the new DVDs get into large scale production.

According to a report in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper, the company expects the disc to be ready for market in one to two years. It has developed the new 1.2mm thick, 120mm diameter disc to work with the new blue ray standard.

Although the bulk of the disc will be biodegradable, the data layer will have to be recycled separately. This follows an earlier announcement by Sony, which has developed a biodegradable contactless smart card made with modified polylactic acid (PLA) in co-operation with Mitsubishi Plastics. Sanyo, in collaboration with Mitsui, has also developed a corn-based DVD.