D&L Polymer & Colours, Inc. (DPLC), a unit of the country’s largest food ingredients and chemical producer D&L Industries, Inc., will launch this year its pioneering technology that will use plant fiber in making plastic products.
DLPC president and chief executive officer Lester Lao told reporters in an interview that the company would like to take advantage of the country’s supply of natural fiber such as abaca, pineapple, spider lily, and vetiver, among others, in producing more sustainable products.
“The Philippines has an endless supply of natural fibers that are mostly deemed as waste. About 25 years ago, even before the term ESG or sustainability became mainstream, we had already started exploring the possibilities of harnessing the potential of abaca fiber as an environmentally friendly complementary material or alternative to plastics,” Lao said.
“However, the technology to properly process abaca fibers at scale did not exist at the time, given its extraordinary strength known as the world’s strongest. More than two decades later, with the various advancements in technology, we are finally seeing our vision come to fruition,” he added.
Utilizing natural fiber composites can replace up to 40 percent of polymers in the formulation of various consumer and industrial products.
Plant fiber can also be made plastic products compostable for better circularity.
“Natural fiber composites have inherent properties that can complement or enhance plastic’s natural mechanical and chemical properties while making it more sustainable at the same time. These composites are stronger and more resilient while being lightweight enough to float in water,” Lao said.
He added that DLPC is in discussion with several potential partners that are interested in utilizing natural fiber composites in making their plastic products, from household products to automotive and electric vehicle parts, more sustainable. (PNA)
