Einmal DVD, a German company, has introduced a disposable DVD called DVD-D. DVD-D discs expire after 48 hours and are priced at only €3.99 ($6.44 /£3.20).

A self-destruct chemical coating is placed on DVD-D discs, making them unreadable soon after being removed from their vacuum-sealed packaging. After 48 hours, the discs display an error message when put into any DVD player.

It is hoped that DVD-D will prove to be advantageous move for the consumer as well as the film industry. The idea is that if a DVD is priced low enough, more people will be willing to buy a movie rather than illegally download it. Disposable DVD’s are already a hit in Italy, France and Scandinavia.

But self-destructing DVDs are not a new concept. Flexplay, an American technology company, introduced disposable DVDs in 2003. But, various environmental groups criticized the thought of throwaway DVDs, even though the discs were fully recyclable.

-Lilly Ryden