By James A. Loyola
D&L Polymers & Colours, Inc. (DLPC) and First in Colours, Inc. (FIC), fully-owned subsidiaries of D&L Industries, are introducing two new products that will solve the problem faced by many companies given the potential ban on single-use plastics.
“We have successfully developed two proprietary product lines, Biomate™ and Biorez™, which can provide solutions for companies to alleviate single-use plastic pollution in the country. These products make plastics biodegradable and are certified by international standards,” DLPC and FIC Managing Director Lester Lao said in a press briefing.
He explained that, “From a practical standpoint, it may not be possible to completely ban the use of single-use plastics instantly. This is true especially in medical, personal care, and other sectors where single-use plastics are necessary for sanitary and safety purposes.”
Lao noted that, “The D&L group has a steadfast commitment to both R&D and product innovation to achieve sustainable growth. One of our advocacies is to promote ‘green chemistry.’ As part of this, our team, for years, has been proactively doing R&D works in the environment-friendly and sustainable plastic materials space.”
Biomate™ is an additive developed by FIC which can be added to plastics to make it biodegradable. With as little as 2 percent dosage of Biomate™, single-use plastics produced from polyolefins can achieve over 90 percent biodegradation within two years.
“Most importantly, Biomate™ does not leave persistent microplastics, unlike others. It is suitable for plastics used as primary packaging for perishable products such as meat, fish, fruits and vegetables,” Lao said.
Meanwhile, Biorez™ is a compostable plastic developed by DLPC. It’s a ready- to-use compound that can be instantly molded into various single-use plastic applications such as films, straws, cutlery, and cups, as well as hard plastic products such as toys.
Biorez™, given proper environmental conditions in a composting facility, can achieve 90 percent biodegradation within 6 months. The end-product of this composting process is either high value fertilizer or biomass feedstock for electricity generation.
It was recently reported that the Senate has earmarked funds for plastic recycling factories and composting facilities in the DENR budget for 2020 with provisions that mandate the construction of composting facilities in all towns. This makes using compostable plastics and subsequent recycling more feasible.
“We are optimistic on the potential of biodegradable plastics as the world shifts towards more sustainable and environment-friendly materials,” said D&L President & CEO Alvin Lao.
He added that, “Over the long-term, we continue to innovate by investing in R&D as part of our strategy to stay ahead of the curve. In addition to biodegradable plastics, there are several other product developments in the pipeline that provide runway for growth.”
D&L is the only company in the Philippines that manufactures biodegradable plastics and additives that are internationally certified. D&L has the capability to service the local plastic industry and even the export market should they decide to switch to more sustainable and biodegradable packaging materials.