# Sleek Eco Symbols Laura Howard Designs Bioplastic Symbol for Cereplast By Katie Cordrey | Published 2011-04-23 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bioplastic-symbol References: [4-traders](http://www.4-traders.com/news/Cereplast-s-Make-Your-Mark-Bioplastics-Symbol-Contest-Attracts-2-8-Million-Votes--13594961/) & [greenrightnow](http://www.greenrightnow.com/kabc/tag/bioplastic-symbol/) Laura Howard, a 29-year-old [University of Louisville](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biodegradable-glitter1) graphic design student, has created a bioplastic symbol that will be stamped on Cereplast Inc.'s [bioplastic products and packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/natnov-bioscience). Cereplast sponsored the "Make Your Mark" contest, which looked for a design that would help consumers identify bioplastics and differentiate them from the familiar number-in-a-triangle symbols that mark petroleum-based plastics. Howard's bioplastic symbol was one of 200 final designs chosen from a field of 1,500 entries. Nearly 3 million votes were cast before a panel of judges that included famed industrial designer Karim Rashid and Dr. Gary Anderson, (the inventor of the "recycle" symbol,) made the final call. The bioplastic symbol netted Howard a $25,000 prize and may one day be as ubiquitous as Anderson's [triple-arrow recycling symbol](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/debatin). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.1/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Bioplastic Identification:** Creating new symbols or designs to help consumers identify bioplastics and differentiate them from petroleum-based plastics. - **Sustainable Packaging:** Incorporating bioplastics into packaging materials to reduce environmental impact and meet consumer demand for sustainability. - **Eco-friendly Materials:** Developing bioplastics as an alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote environmental preservation. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Packaging:** The packaging industry can explore incorporating bioplastics into their products to offer eco-friendly alternatives and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. - **Design:** Designers can focus on creating innovative symbols and visual cues that help consumers identify and understand the sustainability aspects of different materials and products. - **Plastics:** The plastics industry can invest in research and development to enhance the production and properties of bioplastics, further promoting their adoption as a sustainable alternative. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Biotransformable Cup Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/verigreen.md) - [Waste-Transformed Biomaterials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/by-osmosis.md) - [Bio-Based Single-Use Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/verigreen-plus.md) - [Bio-Based Paper Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paper-food-packaging.md) - [Recycled Plastic Furniture Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bristol-plastic-factory.md) - [Marine Biotech Skincare](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dulcie.md) - [Plant-Based Plastic Bottles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-pet-bottle.md) - [Plant-Based Beverage Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prototype-pet-bottle.md) - [Sustainable Supplement Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/touchstone-essentials-packaging.md)