Biome Tech Regulatory News (BIOM)

29 Feb 2008 09:43

Stanelco PLC29 February 2008 29th February 2008 Stanelco Welcomes Media Debate on Plastics and the Environment Stanelco plc, the only bioplastics manufacturer headquartered in the UK,welcomes the current debate on the effect of plastic products and particularlybags on the environment. Stanelco is one of Europe's leading players in the bioplastics market and has aheritage of over 15 years of research and development in this area.Headquartered in Southampton where it has its research base, Stanelco makes anddevelops the basic bio polymers that can be used to make products includingbags, packaging and garden products out of materials that are sustainable andthat quickly return to the natural ecosystem at the end of their useful life. Stanelco's bio materials are all biodegradable, made from predominantlysustainable base materials like potato starch, and will therefore degrade morerapidly than oil-based polymers in the natural environment. Stanelco's materialsstart to break down in a matter of weeks, significantly reducing the threat ofanimals and marine life being trapped, injured or killed. The materials fullybreak down in months allowing the breakdown products to put nutrients back intothe ground to provide for the next cycle of crops. Furthermore, the inks usedfor printing on the bags purchased by our customers can at their instruction bewater based, reducing the impact of solvent based inks on the environment. Stanelco's commercial and development activities take place in the UK, withmanufacture provided by Biotec, its German subsidiary jointly owned with SPhereS.A. Stanelco recently invested in further capacity at the German productionfactory, enabling it to have the capacity of producing annually the bioplasticsthat could replace some 2.9 billion conventional plastic bags. That equates toapproximately one per week for every man, woman and child in the UK. Paul Mines, Chief Executive of Stanelco said: "We welcome the press interest in this subject; Stanelco is well placed tosupply the materials required to make plastic products that use sustainableresources and minimise man's impact on the environment. Adoption of our greentechnology is growing rapidly and customer interest is high; and we are workingwith our partners and customers to deliver this as rapidly as possible". For further information please visit www.stanelcoplc.com. For further information please contact: StanelcoPaul Mines, Chief Executive, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 867100 Press: FDJonathon Brill/Caroline Stewart, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange