BIN HILAL ENTERPRISES

Use of biodegradable plastic yet to pick up
 05-04-2003

 

The UAE now manufactures and exports biodegradable plastics, but most stores, groceries and households here still use non-biodegradable polyethylene.

Part of the reason is cost. The other is availability. Up to now, biodegradable plastic bags are still about 10 to 15 per cent more expensive than regular plastics.

Not so many people know that biodegradable garbage and food freezer bags are also now available in leading supermarkets in the UAE.

Winston Pryce, managing director, Symphony Bin Hilal Plastics LLC, said: "The use of biodegradable plastics in the UAE is quite small, just as in most parts of the world. Biodegradable plastic is a relatively new product, just about four years old, but its use is increasing very rapidly."

But the benefits of using biodegradable plastics are enormous, he pointed out. Environment-friendly plastic bags will degrade harmlessly and completely after use, regardless of the environmental conditions, leaving no harmful products behind.

"We think that we are on the point of making it about the same price as degradable within the next three to six months." Pryce said their product is approved by European Community Standards and was granted Millennium Products Status by the Design Council of Britain.

They also customise bags on request of clients. The degradable plastic, called Tuffy Degradable, is the product of research labs in the UK and the U.S. It is manufactured in the UAE by a joint venture between Symphony Plastics of the UK and Bin Hilal Enterprises of Abu Dhabi.

Bin Hilal Plastics LLC has built a Dh25 million factory in Abu Dhabi under licence by UK's Symphony Plastics Ltd.

According to Pryce, Tuffy Degradable is as strong as non degradable plastic bags. Pryce explained that in terms of the mechanical strength, there is no basic difference from the ordinary plastic bags.

"The degradable additive that we use does not affect the mechanical quality of the polyethylene at all. This enables us to produce a plastic film that very often is stronger than what our competition is doing."

Pryce explained that while regular plastics degrade in over 100 years, the Tuffy plastic bags start degrading in about three weeks when exposed in heat and light.

Symphony has developed a chemical mixed into the polyethelene to break its molecules into hydrogen and carbon.

"It will continue to break up until it completely disappears. Its molecules break apart to give off carbondioxide and water. The amount of carbondioxide is very small - ordinary plastic will degrade over a hundred or so years and will give off the same amount of carbondioxide anyway."

After the molecule is destroyed, hydrogen mixes with oxygen to form water.

When the Tuffy bags are stored at room temperatures, they will retain their desired shape for one year. Up to now, about 90 per cent of Bin Hilal's production is exported to the UK and 10 per cent is sold primarily in the UAE but they are expanding their markets in the Gulf.

At present, its factory produces 200 tonnes of degradable plastics per month, out of its maximum capacity of 1,000 tonnes. It employs 22 people, but this will increase to 70 when the maximum production capacity is achieved as the market for biodegradable plastics catch up.