Who invented EcoDisc?

The EcoDisc was invented by Hilal (Al) Fetouhi and Roger Nute. Al is a chemical engineer who has been working in the optical disc industry for over 15 years. He already invented the TVD (Thin DVD) in 2004 but later realised that only taking half a DVD is just not enough. Roger Nute, who was involved in the invention of the first laser beam recorder mastering system at Nimbus UK, one of the pioneers in the optical disc industry, has experience in the aerospace industry. Together they analysed all the DVD players and drives in the market, for functionality and how these interact with discs, especially at high speed. As a result they engineered a disc with features that match the characteristics of DVD players and drives which when combined guarantee the same playability as the standard DVD.

Who makes EcoDisc?

EcoDisc Technology AG (EDT) is a research & development company, which doesn’t have its own production facilities. EDT is licensing the EcoDisc technology to manufacturers, providing them with the necessary upgrade kits for their existing equipment and is training their technical staff.

Is EcoDisc Technology patented?

Yes, currently there are 4 European patents, 3 international patents and 6 US patents pending. The patent protection includes all major markets worldwide, including Australia, China, India, Russia and major territories in Africa and South America.

Is the EcoDisc logo protected?

Yes, the EcoDisc logo as well as the typical dots on the label have trademark and design protection in all major markets. They are licensed to EcoDisc manufacturers together with the patents and the manufacturing know-how.

Where can I apply for a manufacturing license?

EcoDisc Technology AG is the only licensor currently. Licenses can be signed by every optical disc manufacturer at standard terms and conditions. 

What makes EcoDisc eco-friendly?

EcoDisc only consists of one layer of plastic (polycarbonate) instead of the two-bonded layers of a traditional DVD. This simpler, longer-lasting disc uses only half the plastic and requires half the energy in production. This means that producing an EcoDisc emits 52% less carbon dioxide than a traditional DVD5. Because EcoDisc is only one layer, it requires no toxic bonder. Additionally, because EcoDiscs are half the weight of traditional DVDs, they offer substantial emission reductions in shipping and transportation.

How does it store the same amount of information with half the plastic?

The amount of data on a disc is determined by the storage capacity of the data layer of a disc. The EcoDisc has the same data structure and the same data layer as a conventional DVD5 (4.7 GigaByte). The second half of a standard DVD5 is only a dummy, which does not contain any data.

What about the DVD9 with 8.5 GB storage capacity? Can the EcoDisc replace this DVD type?

No, currently the EcoDisc is limited to a capacity of 4.7 GB, equivalent to the DVD5. The most widely used applications of DVD5 are promotional, educational, children’s, enterprise, government, IT bundling, newspaper and magazine cover-mounts. All these applications together cover about 70% of the market. The typical Hollywood movie with bonus material, various language tracks etc. need the 8.5GB capacity of the DVD9 with two data layers. The EcoDisc DL (Dual Layer) is currently under development.

Is there an EcoDisc CD available?

Yes, the EcoDisc family will be expanded with an EcoDisc CD-Audio and EcoDisc CD-ROM. Despite the rapid fall in sales of CDs in the music market, the CD format is still manufactured in large quantities for the promotional, educational, children’s, enterprise, government, IT bundling, newspaper and magazine cover-mount markets. Overall the total number of CDs worldwide is still roughly equivalent to the total number of DVDs manufactured and distributed. So it’s worthwhile looking at carbon emission reduction possibilities for this format as well.

Has EcoDisc been tested and certified by a third party?

The EcoDisc was awarded a 99.2% playability rating from the Professional Multimedia Test Centre (PMTC). It has been tested against a standard DVD5 manufactured by one of the largest DVD manufacturers worldwide and against two other thin discs. The EcoDisc had exactly the same rating as the standard DVD, whilst the other two competing discs showed results unacceptable for large distribution to consumers.

The EcoDisc has been on the market successfully for nearly two years in Europe. Tens of millions of discs have been distributed to the public. When EcoDiscs were mounted on a major newspaper in London, 2.6 million EcoDiscs were given out for free to the readers, with no complaints about the discs’ playability at all.

Is EcoDisc compatible with my current CD and DVD production line?

The EcoDisc is being produced on existing CD lines. A small investment in an upgrade kit can convert the injection mould and the downstream for EcoDisc production.

Can I print labels and graphics on EcoDiscs like normal Discs?

Yes. EcoDisc is the same size as a normal DVD, and can be printed or labeled exactly like a traditional disc.

Can the EcoDisc be packaged on the same industrial automated packaging equipment?

Yes. The EcoDisc has been tested on all common automated high-speed packaging lines. They can be packaged in exactly the same way as standard DVDs or CDs.

What about the packaging of the EcoDisc together with magazines or newspapers?

The flexibility of the EcoDisc provides a big advantage for the magazine or newspaper publisher who wants to pack free discs together with the magazine or newspaper. Major industrial packaging companies specialised in the publishing sector have confirmed that the “slow down surcharge” for the handling of discs in the packaging process goes from 20% for the standard disc to 5% for the EcoDisc.

Can I use EcoDisc on any machine that plays normal discs?

Yes. EcoDisc plays on any standard DVD player, computer, laptop or in-car entertainment drive.