ECO-ONE®: THE FUTURE OF BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

Q: What is Hayleys Aventura’s sustainability ethos?

A:  Sustainability is in Hayleys Aventura’s DNA. We are driven by our purpose – to engineer scientific solutions with sustainable innovation.

For us, sustainability is a strategic priority across environmental, economic and social aspects in the solutions we offer our stakeholders, in line with the Hayleys Lifecode – a group-wide holistic ESG (environmental, social and governance) framework and call to action.

As a testimony to our commitment to ESG, we are increasingly shifting from traditional commodity type raw materials to supplying speciality industrial raw materials that enhance product sustainability for manufacturers, infusing their products with sustainable features and benefits, thereby opening new export avenues for them.

Hayleys Aventura has partnered with over 60 reputed global raw materials brands to supply food, and industrial grade speciality chemicals and raw materials, to diverse industries in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Indonesia and Singapore, spanning food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, tyres, plastics, construction, paints, cosmetics, agro-businesses, textiles and apparel.

Q: Expanding landfills is one of the biggest challenges that the environment in Sri Lanka faces today. How will your company’s technologies contribute to sustainable solutions in this regard?

A: Landfill waste is continually expanding due to non-biodegradable waste such as plastics, which could take hundreds of years to degrade. Considering the rising consumption of plastics in Sri Lanka, this challenge will only become more severe. Along with efforts such as reducing, reusing and recycling plastic, the biodegradability of plastic waste can make a huge difference.

Landfills are biologically active environments that contain most of the world’s waste. Biodegradable materials can extend the useful life of landfills and help generate renewable energy.

In many regions around the world, landfill biogas is captured and converted into various forms of renewable energy, thereby accelerating the circular economy.

But no such organised waste disposal method has been implemented in Sri Lanka. A ban on plastics is not advised as it would eliminate the option of this very versatile and cost-effective material for manufacturers.

Traditionally, plastics take hundreds of years to degrade. Our solution is Eco-One®, which enhances the organic biodegradation of plastics to just a few years. For example, with a one percent dosage of Eco-One®, the biodegradation of general plastics (PE, PP, PET, PS and so on) can be achieved within three to five years.

Eco-One® can be used to make plastics biodegradable as it is engineered to decompose after disposal without compromising the ability to recycle these items. We believe that this is a groundbreaking solution for plastic waste.

Q: What’s the technology behind the solution – and what are the benefits of this technology?

A: Eco-One® is a fully organic and non-starch-based product. It is a proprietary blend of organic compounds that are melt compounded into a ‘masterbatch’ carrier resin and then pelletised. The pelletised masterbatch is subsequently melt blended into the final base resin by the end user during their manufacturing process (extrusion, injection moulding, blow moulding and so on).

Hayleys Aventura introduced Eco-One® to the Sri Lankan market in 2020, and to Indonesia and Bangladesh in 2022, as its exclusive channel partner in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region, Indonesia and Myanmar.

One of the key benefits of Eco-One® is its ready to use property as no changes need to be made in the process parameters of manufacturers for seamless process implementation. It is fully biodegradable, and maintains product appearance and mechanical properties.

Eco-One® is also highly cost effective.

As recycling only tackles five percent of total plastic waste in Sri Lanka, Eco-One® addresses the larger challenge facing society – the rest of the plastic waste that ends up in landfills.

The key to Eco-One® lies in its recyclability and enhanced biodegradation, offering a crucial solution for the majority of plastics that are discarded – a more comprehensive approach to achieving a cleaner environment.

Q: Who are the stakeholders that can harness this technology in their production processes?

A: Everyone is looking for a solution that maintains the benefits of traditional plastics and yet reduces their companies’ environmental footprints in a practical and cost-effective way.

Presently, we are working closely with apparel, packaging and agri exporters who export to developed markets such as the US and Europe. The incorporation of Eco-One® into their products has enabled these exporters to meet stringent environmental compliance standards in Western markets, thereby providing them with a competitive edge.

Any manufacturer using base resins (LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, PP, PET, PS, PC and so on) in its products or the packaging of its products can use this technology.

Eco-One® is armed with stringent global quality standards including ASTM D5511, ASTM E1963, FDA, CE, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), California’s Proposition 65, Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards.

Q: What are your company’s future plans?

A: Hayleys Aventura remains committed to expanding its portfolio of innovative and sustainable scientific solutions to drive industrial growth responsibly.

We are striving to move towards greener products across our verticals, which are good for the environment and add value to exporters. This value addition helps Sri Lankan exporters command a premium in Western markets and lends them a competitive edge.

– Compiled by Yamini Sequeira
COMPANY DETAILS

Telephone: 2628400| Email: info@hayleysaventura.com | Website: www.hayleysaventura.com