D&L Industries is paving the way for a circular economy by being the first and only company in the Philippines to offer technologies that breathe new life into plastics that are otherwise considered as low-value or non-recyclable, such as single-use plastics.

The firm said it has been involved in the plastics industry for over six decades. Manufacturing colorants for plastics was the first business of the group. 

Subsidiaries First in Colours, Incorporated (FIC) and D&L Polymer & Colours, Inc. (DLPC) specialize in additives and compounds that give plastics a wide range of physical and chemical properties.

“Plastics are materials that are almost indispensable in the modern way of life. Its application extends to virtually every industry, from food to construction and infrastructure to transportation to health care and many more,” said FIC and DLPC President Lester Lao. 

He noted that “to date, there is no other material known to mankind that is as lightweight, hygienic, malleable, and economical as plastics.”

“Sadly, a good percentage of post-consumer plastic materials which are considered as low-value or non-recyclable end up in landfills and those that are improperly disposed of find their way in our oceans. We believe that the key in truly utilizing the potential of plastics lies in technologies that enable plastics to be reincarnated multiple times, if not indefinitely, and that’s where FIC and DLPC come in,” Lao added.

As early as about twenty years ago, the company had already started R&D works in developing technologies that can make plastics sustainable. To date, FIC and DLPC have been successful in coming up with a range of solutions that enable plastic upcycling. 

Examples of these technologies include plastic additives such as Plastibond® which acts as a bonding agent to allow various types of waste plastics to mix together and make them compatible, Polyguard® which improves the stability of plastics to delay degradation, and Deomate® which acts as a odor remover and neutralizer.

Instead of simply offering these additives to the market, FIC and DLPC goes one step further by providing custom-compounding services to fit the specific needs and applications of customers. 

“We believe upcycling is the future of plastics. In fact, in certain cases, upcycled plastics can even exceed the physical properties of virgin plastics. This technology also offers another way for companies to comply with the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Act by increasing recycled content of their plastic packaging materials,” Lao said.

He added that “as the world moves towards a more sustainable path, we want to be at the forefront of this development driving the change. To innovate continuously in the direction of green chemistry is a commitment that we have made to the profession and to the future generations."

“As a company, FIC and DLPC aim to be a one-stop-shop in enabling our customers thrive in the ever changing business environment by providing custom technology solutions to the country’s plastics industry," he also said.