D&L Industries Inc., the country’s largest specialty foods ingredients, plastics and oleochemicals firm, said it is ready to provide product substitutes to companies amid the potential ban on single-use plastics.
D&L said in a statement over the weekend units D&L Polymers & Colours Inc. and First in Colours Inc. had the capability to serve the requirements of the local plastic industry and even the export market if they decided to switch to more sustainable and biodegradable packaging materials.
D&L is the only company in the Philippines that manufactures bio-degradeble plastics and additives that are internationally certified.
“The potential ban on single-use plastics presents both challenges and opportunities to everyone in the industry. While this will likely put pressure on manufacturers of single-use plastics, there is a greater opportunity for us to increase our relevance to customers and provide innovative and higher value-added products,” said DLPC and FIC managing director Lester Lao.
Lao, however, noted that it might 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.
“Plastic is a technological advancement that continues to play a crucial role in modern-day society. We believe that educating people to properly dispose, sort, and segregate, is the key to address the negative environmental impact of single-use plastics. At the same time, plastics must be reduced, reused, and recycled,” Lao said.
He said the company had been proactively doing R&D works in the environment-friendly and sustainable plastic materials space as part of an advocacy to promote “green chemistry.”
DLPC & FIC to date have successfully developed two proprietary product lines, Biomate and Biorez, which can provide solution for companies to alleviate single-use plastic pollution in the country.
“These products make plastics biodegradable and are certified by international standards,” Lao said.