Symphony Environmental Tech. PLC Oxo-biodegradable technology statement (4199V)
July 23 2018 - 2:09AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMSYM
RNS Number : 4199V
Symphony Environmental Tech. PLC
23 July 2018
23 July 2018
SYMPHONY ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES PLC
("Symphony" or the "Company")
Oxo-biodegradable Technology Statement
The Plastic Issue
Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc (AIM:SYM), a global
specialist in technologies that has responded to the global
challenge to reduce and "make plastics smarter". The Company's
products include d2w controlled-life plastic technology, a process
internationally described as oxo-biodegradation which ultimately
makes most types of plastics biodegradable by pre-treatment during
the manufacturing process.
The global debate
All plastics will fragment when exposed in the open environment,
but the problem with ordinary plastics is that their fragments will
lie or float around for decades before becoming biodegradable and
will persist and accumulate as a problem for future generations.
During that time, they break down into microplastics and may
attract and carry toxins.
The global debate and concerns surrounding the urgent need to
eliminate plastic pollution on land, in rivers and in oceans has
become a major part of our communications strategy as an increasing
number of governments are adopting and enforcing legislation to cut
down on harmful plastic waste.
This is positive for the Company as it increases our visibility
as a viable, proven and efficient solution. However, considerable
confusion as to the best options have been created by misleading
media coverage and insufficient information being available which
results in making the problem of pollution, food protection, health
and the ability to recycle much worse. Guidance can be found
through the Oxo-biodegradable Plastic Association website
"Rethinking the future of plastics" at
http://www.biodeg.org/page32.html. This paper has been endorsed by
numerous top plastic scientists across the world.
Symphony's d2w solution
d2w oxo-biodegradable additive technology is proven science, a
drop-in process, simple to use, low cost solution that importantly
does not affect the plastics original and beneficial purpose (for
example, of protecting, containing or transporting other products).
It has been scientifically proven to help reduce dwell-time of
plastic that escapes recycling and ends up in the open environment.
The increasing adoption of d2w is supported by more legislation for
oxo-biodegradable solutions and also for business use, a positive
Life Cycle Assessment showing it as the best environmental option.
Symphony's d2w technology has been awarded an Eco-label (certified
by ABNT), several international forums and leading plastic
scientists have confirmed plastics made with d2w are biodegradable,
non-toxic and recyclable.
Whilst Symphony would welcome selling increased volumes of d2w
in both the UK and continental Europe, approximately 90% of the
Company's sales are currently generated outside the European Union
into growing economies that have little to no recycling, composting
or collection systems.
Some of these countries initially considered restrictions on or
even banning plastics but due to the considerable benefits that
plastic materials provide, this proved impractical and many have
subsequently chosen a d2w oxo-biodegradable type option to address
their plastic pollution problems.
Whilst Europe has established, comprehensive and effective waste
management and recycling systems, plastic materials still escape
collection. Further, it is estimated that 90% of ocean waste is
generated from 10 of the largest water networks in the world of
which 7 are in Asia and 3 in Africa; but none in Europe. This
represents approximately 8 million tons of plastics being deposited
in the oceans each year. Combined with the fact that approximately
50% of the world's population does not have access to a collection
system for waste, the issue is therefore global, and Symphony has
d2w products in nearly 100 countries for use in all sorts of
products including drinking straws, coffee capsules, cutlery and
crop growing films etc.
d2w's compliance with legislation
The European Committee for Standardisations has a definition for
oxo-biodegradable technology in CEN/TR 15351. This defines it as a
process of oxidation and cell-mediated phenomena either
simultaneously or successively. This definition is supported by
several standards which defines the acceptable criteria for passing
degradation, biodegradation and eco-toxicity. The International
Standard commonly used by governments to support legislation is
ASTM 6954 and Symphony's d2w technology has been proven to comply
with this standard.
Symphony has more than 20 years of data and evidence that
plastics made with d2w technology do not produce persistent
micro-plastics like other normal plastic product.
Symphony's CEO, Michael Laurier said: "The global market of
plastic production is estimated at 320 million tons per annum and
growing. These global realities, combined with our scientifically
proven d2w and other smart plastic technologies, will continue to
open up new market opportunities as the world looks at innovative
products and change."
-ENDS-
Contacts
Symphony Environmental Technologies
Plc
Michael Laurier, CEO Tel: +44 (0)
20 8207 5900
www.symphonyenvironmental.com
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe
David Foreman, Richard Salmond, Tel: +44 (0)
Michael Boot 20 7894 7000
Notes to Editor
Symphony has developed a range of additives,
concentrates and master-batches marketed as
* d2p which can be incorporated in a wide variety
of plastic and non-plastic products and applications
so as to give them protection against many
different types of bacteria, fungi, algae,
mold and insects. The developing technology
range extends into odour adsorbers, corrosion
inhibitors and flame retardants.
In addition Symphony has developed controlled-life
plastic technology which turns ordinary plastic
at the end of its service-life into biodegradable
materials. It is then no longer a plastic and
can be bioassimilated in the open environment
in the same way as a leaf. The technology is
branded d2w(R) and appears as a droplet logo
on many thousands of tonnes of plastic packaging
and other plastic products around the world.
In some countries oxo-biodegradable plastic
is mandatory. For a video of d2w(R) plastic
degrading see http://degradable.net/play-videos/4.
In addition Symphony has developed the d2Detector(R),
a portable device which analyses plastics and
detects counterfeit products. Symphony's d2t
tagging and tracer technology is also available
for further security. See www.d2t.net
Symphony has a diverse and growing customer-base
and has established itself as an international
business with 74 distributors around the world.
Products made with Symphony's plastic technologies
are now available in 97countries and in many
different product applications. Symphony is
certified to ISO9001 and ISO14001.
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END
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