Symphony Env. Regulatory News (SYM)

28 September 2020

SYMPHONY ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES PLC

("Symphony" or the "Group")

UK Airport Group introduces biodegradable security bag

Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc (AIM: SYM), a global specialist in technologies that "make plastics smarter" is pleased to announce that AGS Airports Ltd ("AGS"), which operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports has become the first UK company to trial a new oxo-biodegradable 100 ml security bag.

The switch to oxo-biodegradable security bags is the latest initiative introduced to help reduce AGS's carbon footprint. AGS has joined over 200 airports across Europe in signing ACI Europe's NetZero 2050 pledge, a commitment to achieving net zero for the carbon under their control by 2050.

At a UK level, AGS is a signatory to Sustainable Aviation's decarbonisation roadmap, which is the first national net zero aviation commitment anywhere in the world. Symphony's oxo-biodegradable plastic bags have been introduced in partnership with Enviro-point, a subsidiary of airport service company Luggage-point.

Plastic bags and packaging made with Symphony's d2w are just as strong, waterproof and flexible as regular plastic and can be used for all the same intents and purposes.

However, unlike regular plastic, d2w security bags do not create persistent microplastics, and if they escape collection and end up in the open environment as litter, the d2w will accelerate the natural process of oxidation. Reducing the molecular weight of the polymer until it is no longer a plastic and can be bio-assimilated (i.e. used as a food source) by fungi and bacteria on land and in the ocean. This happens in the same way as nature's wastes and much, much faster than regular plastic, drastically reducing dwell-time in the environment.

It is estimated that approximately 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans of the world each year (source: Ocean Conservancy organisation) with approximately 80% of the plastic originating in land.

Mark Johnston, COO at AGS, said "Finding a suitable alternative that met both security and operational requirements while retaining the necessary resilience the bags require was a challenge, so we are really pleased to be able to trial a product that can not only be re-used and recycled, but also provides our passengers with the assurance that they are also supporting our efforts to protect the environment."

Graeme Stewart, CEO, Enviro-point commented "We have a long and trusted relationship with AGS through our association via Luggage-Point and I am delighted to see the group become the first in the UK to provide Oxo-Biodegradable liquid bags within their airports. Despite the current challenges facing the aviation industry, it is vital that we do not lose sight of environmental issues and as AGS has demonstrated, positive changes can still be made during these difficult times. I hope to witness further airports making the same positive change by introducing Enviro-Point's Oxo-Biodegradable liquid bags, as small changes can often have the largest impact."

Symphony's CEO, Michael Laurier said "We are delighted Enviro-Point has embraced d2w as their Technology of choice for the new oxo-biodegradable 100 ml security bag, supplied to AGS Airports Ltd, because it allows passengers to keep using the best product for the job, without the environmental consequences associated with plastic."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Symphony Environmental Technologies plc

https://www.symphonyenvironmental.com

In addition to d2w, and of growing importance since the Coronavirus pandemic began, Symphony have developed a technology, marketed under their d2p® ("designed to protect") brand, which gives plastic antimicrobial properties. It has recently been approved by the FDA in the United States for keeping bread packaging free of bacteria.

They have now received test results from an independent laboratory showing a virus reduction of 99.9% after only one hour against a member of the BETA CORONAVIRUS group of viruses. This is a masterbatch technology which can be incorporated in a wide range of polymer products at an affordable cost, without disrupting the manufacturing process or the supply-chain.

Symphony also has range of additives, concentrates and master-batches which can be incorporated in a wide variety of plastic and non-plastic products so as to give them protection against many different types of bacteria, fungi, algae, moulds, rodents and insects, and against corrosion, and fire. See www.d2p.net 

d2p products also include odour, moisture and ethylene adsorbers as well as other types of food-preserving technologies. Symphony has also launched d2p anti-microbial household gloves and toothbrushes, and is developing a range of other d2p finished products for retail sale.

Symphony has also developed the d2Detector®, a portable device which analyses plastics and detects counterfeit products. This is useful to government officials tasked with enforcing legislation, and Symphony's d2t tagging and tracer technology is available for further security.

Symphony has a diverse and growing customer-base and has established itself as an international business with 74 distributors around the world. Products made with Symphony's plastic technologies are now available in nearly 100 countries and in many different product applications. Symphony itself is accredited to ISO9001 and ISO14001.

Symphony is a member of The OPA (www.biodeg.org) and actively participates in the Committee work of the British Standards Institute (BSI), the American Standards Organisation (ASTM), the European Standards Organisation (CEN), and the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

Further information on the Symphony Group can be found at www.symphonyenvironmental.com and twitter @SymphonyEnv See also Symphony on Instagram. A Symphony App is available for downloading to smartphones.