A Further Salvo in the OXO v Hydro Plastics War:

A Statement From Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc

LONDON, March 12, 2010 - Oxo-biodegradable plastic has come under the spotlight in a
controversial new report from Loughborough University released
yesterday by DEFRA.

Among other things, the report claims that oxo-degradable plastics "do
not improve the environmental performance of petroleum based plastics"
and "marketing claims which are typically applied to such materials
are potentially misleading."

These are familiar allegations which Symphony and other companies in
the oxo-biodegradable plastics sector have had to face before -
(usually from the "compostable" or "bio-based" plastics industry) and
which they have had no difficulty in refuting. It should be obvious
that plastic which self-destructs at the end of its useful life,
leaving no harmful residues, is better for the environment than normal
or recycled plastic, which can lie or float around for decades.

Loughborough University did not do any experiments itself. Symphony
were also concerned to find that that two of the three assessors of
the Report are themselves engaged in bio-based plastics, which is a
totally different discipline to oxo- biodegradable.

One of them is a well known and very vociferous advocate of bio-based
plastics, who appears from his website
(https://www.msu.edu/~narayan/general.htm)
to have a commercial interest in companies that produce bio-based
plastic, which disqualifies him as an independent assessor of a report
on oxo-biodegradable plastic. Another is a biologist, with no
specialised knowledge in polymer science.

Symphony now has a copy of the report and is studying its findings. As
a British company, and a world leader in controlled-life
(oxo-biodegradable) plastics with a presence in 92 countries
worldwide, the company will be making a response as soon as possible.
It will be happy to comment on the findings of the report and will
welcome any inquiries about its d2w technology.

The company also understands that a report on the use of crops in
biofuels and bioplastics and their adverse effect on the environment
has been prepared by DEFRA. It looks forward to seeing this report
soon. Symphony agrees with Germany's Institute for Energy and
Environmental Research who concluded in June 2009 that oil-based
plastics, especially if recycled, have a better Life-cycle Analysis
than compostable plastics.

    For further information, contact:
    Max de Trense,
    Carteret Communnications
    Tel: +44(0)207-828-8598
    M:   +44(0)7795-204078

For further information, contact: Max de Trense, Carteret Communnications, Tel: +44(0)207-828-8598, M: +44(0)7795-204078