We have read with interest the letter from Mrs M.D. Spiteri (TMID 28 January), in relation to the “degradable conformity standards” on plastic carrier bags, and as Malta’s exclusive importer and distributor for Symphony Environ-mental’s d2wR totally degradable polythene packaging, we feel that Malta should be fully aware that all products showing the d2wR logo have been independently tested proving their degradability as well as being food safe and soil safe.
d2wR is a registered brand of Symphony Environmental Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Symphony Plastic Technologies plc, a company quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Symphony has developed an environmentally responsible totally degradable additive which can be incorporated into all forms of flexible polythene packaging.
The beauty of Symphony’s product is that the additive will not alter the aesthetics of the product, performance, sealability or printability. However, a product containing its additive will, after its useful life, totally degrade to CO2 and water with a little bit of bio-mass.
d2wR products have been independently tested by RAPRA Technologies Ltd (formerly The Rubber & Plastics Research Association).
These tests highlight that, after accelerated weathering under controlled conditions, the film shows a significant reduction in tensile strength as well as being shown to be compliant with the requirements of Food Directive 2002/72/EC (and UK Statutory Instrument 2002/3008).
This means that as well as being suitable for contact with dry foods, the film can also be used in long-term contact with any food type at temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius.
In addition, third party tests have been carried out on d2wR degradable products which were successfully tested for soil safety and eco-toxicity, demonstrating that compost with d2wR degradable bags does not cause any toxic or harmful effects or bi-products and is therefore totally soil-safe.
All reports are freely available upon request.
Independent third party tests have also been carried out by Symphony and its distributors in India, Brazil and Italy.
An ongoing and continued R & D programme is in place and as new environmentally-responsible products are brought on to the market, these will also be available from Longbow Ltd.
May we also point out that we fully endorse Mrs Spiteri’s suggestion, that some form of control and third party certified proof is made available to the authorities, as we agree that anybody can print and declare “degradability”.
Frederick Farrugia
Managing Director
Longbow Ltd