Cereplast, Inc., designer and manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastic resins, and Oculus3D, a developer of film-based 3D projection technology, will introduce the world's first biodegradable and compostable 3D glasses, the companies announced at ShoWest 2010. The green eyewear, part of the OculR 3D viewing system, are expected to be available for Summer 2010 distribution to movie theaters.

Major releases such as Avatar and Alice In Wonderland require millions of 3D glasses to be shipped to theaters across the globe. Many theaters collect 3D glasses at the conclusion of each show, but damaged glasses or unreturned pairs end up in trashcans and ultimately in landfills.

“By using Cereplast's resins in our 3D biodegradable and compostable glasses, we can help the entertainment industry reduce its carbon footprint and provide movie theaters with smarter choices for both affordable 3D systems and compatible 3D eyewear," said Marty Shindler, co-founder and CEO of Oculus3D.

The CO2 emissions for the more than 10 million plastic glasses is equivalent to the harmful emissions generated by burning 50,000 gallons of gasoline or 917 barrels of oil, notes Shindler. The Oculus3D eyewear features Cereplast's Compostables® resin made with Ingeo® Poly-lactic acid (PLA). If discarded at a compost site, the 3D glasses “return to nature” in less than 180 days with no chemical residues or toxicity.

The OculR system, which costs 85 percent to 90 percent less than a digital cinema-based approach, consists of the OculR lens for the theater's 35mm projector, a "silver" movie screen and the Cereplast-based biodegradable eyewear or a low-cost plastic frame alternative. The OculR lens can be installed rapidly, eliminating theater downtime, and provides brightness levels of 10-foot lamberts per eye.

The OculR print format is created by applying an algorithm to the final digital intermediate file to produce a master negative. Release prints are then made using standard lab techniques. Costs are identical to making a standard print, according to the company.