Former UK Environment Minister backs revolutionary plastic that solves pollution issues

Symphony Environmental Technologies -- the company behind a game-changing type of plastic that harmlessly biodegrades in the environment -- has received the backing of former UK Environment Minister Theresa Villiers.

Villiers, a British Conservative MP since 1995, who served as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2019 to 2020, has written to Symphony in support of their d2w biodegradable plastic technology. She says that "this technology can play a positive role in tackling plastics pollution, because it enables everyday plastics to biodegrade safely and quickly if they get into the open environment."

"Such a strongly worded letter from a senior government figure goes a long way to help to ensure greater understanding of our biodegradable plastic product, which is already being used in more than 40 forward-thinking nations, including the UK," says Symphony Environmental’s CEO, Michael Laurier.

The environmental benefits of this "oxo-biodegradable" plastic product are clear, and Symphony Environmental is keen to clarify the difference between this technology and "oxo-degradable" plastics, which have been banned by the EU.

Several countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East have already legislated to mandate that everyday plastic items be made with oxo-biodegradable technology, which is not only free of microplastics, suitable for food use and leaves no toxic residues, but d2w was the first technology of its type to be awarded an internationally-recognised Eco-Label.

Full text of the letter from former UK Environment Minister Theresa Villiers:

"We are all aware that plastic which has escaped into the open environment as litter is causing a serious problem, and that governments are taking measures to reduce the amount. Nevertheless, it is realistic to expect that despite those measures a significant amount of plastic will continue to get into the open environment from which it cannot easily be collected for recycling or anything else.

"I gather that your company has sought to address this problem by developing a type of plastic known as "oxo-biodegradable," which converts into non-toxic biodegradable materials if it gets into the open environment, without any need to collect it and take it to a composting facility.

"I am also aware that by Directive 2019/904 the EU has banned ‘oxo-degradable’ plastic as from July 2021 because they think it creates microplastics, but they have not distinguished oxo-degradable from oxo-BIOdegradable plastic. I am concerned that having commenced the process required by REACH before any substance can be banned, the EU did not complete the process and imposed the ban notwithstanding that their own scientific experts (ECHA) advised that they are not convinced that microplastics are formed.

"You have indicated that confusion caused by this legislation is unfairly damaging your business, not only in the EU, but elsewhere in the world where the EU is seeking to persuade governments to follow them and impose the same ban.

"I am therefore writing to say that as a former UK Secretary of State for the Environment I see no justification for banning oxo-BIOdegradable plastic.

"In fact, I consider that this technology can play a positive role in tackling plastics pollution, because it enables everyday plastics to biodegrade safely and quickly if they get into the open environment."

ENDS


NOTE TO EDITORS


For twenty years Symphony have been perfecting their d2w® biodegradable technology, which causes plastic to biodegrade much more quickly than ordinary plastic if it gets into the open environment. See www.d2w.net and www.biodeg.org
In addition to d2w, and of growing importance since the Coronavirus pandemic began, Symphony have developed a technology, marketed under their d2p® ("designed to protect") brand, which gives plastic antimicrobial properties. It has recently been approved by the FDA in the United States for keeping bread packaging free of bacteria.

They have now received test results from an independent laboratory showing a virus reduction of 99.9% after only one hour against a member of the BETA CORONAVIRUS group of viruses. This is a masterbatch technology which can be incorporated in a wide range of polymer products at an affordable cost, without disrupting the manufacturing process or the supply-chain.

Symphony also has range of additives, concentrates and masterbatches which can be incorporated in a wide variety of plastic and non-plastic products so as to give them protection against many different types of bacteria, fungi, algae, moulds, rodents and insects, and against corrosion, and fire. See www.d2p.net
d2p products also include odour, moisture and ethylene adsorbers as well as other types of food- preserving technologies. Symphony has also launched d2p antimicrobial household gloves and toothbrushes, and is developing a range of other d2p finished products for retail sale.

Symphony has also developed the d2Detector®, a portable device which analyses plastics and detects counterfeit products. This is useful to government officials tasked with enforcing legislation, and Symphony's d2t tagging and tracer technology is available for further security.

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 nearly 100 countries and in many different product applications. Symphony itself is accredited to ISO9001 and ISO14001.

Symphony is a member of The OPA (www.biodeg.org) and actively participates in the Committee work of the British Standards Institute (BSI), the American Standards Organisation (ASTM), the European Standards Organisation (CEN), and the International Standards Organisation (ISO).
Further information on the Symphony Group can be found at www.symphonyenvironmental.com and twitter @SymphonyEnv See also Symphony on Instagram. A Symphony App is available for downloading to smartphones.

Facebook: Symphonyenvironmental - https://www.facebook.com/symphonyenvironmental/
Twitter @SymphonyEnv https://twitter.com/symphonyenv?lang=en
Instagram: Symphonyenvironmental https://www.instagram.com/symphonyenvironmental/
Website: www.symphonyenvironmental.com

For further information please contact:

Michael Stephen – dc@d2w.net
Paula Hickford - paula.hickford@d2w.net

Symphony Environmental Technologies plc
https://www.symphonyenvironmental.com

Tel: +44 (0) 20 8207 5900
Tel: +44 (0) 203 829 5000
Tel: +44 (0) 203 764 2341