Irish company MicroPro invents world’s first biodegradable computer

THEY might look like small birdhouses, but the small wooden boxes are more likely to contain CPUs than cuckoos.

An Irish company, MicroPro Computers, is the inventor of the world’s first biodegradable computer which it hopes will convert computer owners green.

The Iameco computers, which are designed and assembled in Ireland, are free of many of the harmful materials contained in conventional desktops as well as heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury. The company, which employs more than 20 staff at its headquarters in Dublin, uses aluminium, wood and renewable wood casings to help minimise the amount of plastic used in the construction of its computers.

They are up one-third the size of standard computers and have been designed to last up to three times longer than traditional PCs, while also requiring one-third less energy.

All keyboards, monitors, mice and hard drives come in a choice of beech, ash or sapele — solid woods sourced from sustainable reserves around the world.

Speaking during a visit to the Iameco plant in Rathfarnham yesterday, Science, Technology and Innovation, Minister Jimmy Devins, said it provided consumers with the option of buying an environmentally-friendly computer or TV.

“The Iameco computer story is a true example of innovation at work,” said Dr Devins, who praised the role of Enterprise Ireland who provided assistance to the project.

MicroPro Computers managing director Paul Maher explained another plus: “One advantage of Iameco, is that when the components are buried in landfills, the wood gets wet, breaks down and new plants begin to grow from old computers,” said Mr Maher.