Speculation re plastics

Stanelco PLC 29 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 particularly bags on the environment. Stanelco is one of Europe's leading players in the bioplastics market and has a heritage of over 15 years of research and development in this area. Headquartered in Southampton where it has its research base, Stanelco makes and develops the basic bio polymers that can be used to make products including bags, packaging and garden products out of materials that are sustainable and that quickly return to the natural ecosystem at the end of their useful life. Stanelco's bio materials are all biodegradable, made from predominantly sustainable base materials like potato starch, and will therefore degrade more rapidly than oil-based polymers in the natural environment. Stanelco's materials start to break down in a matter of weeks, significantly reducing the threat of animals and marine life being trapped, injured or killed. The materials fully break down in months allowing the breakdown products to put nutrients back into the ground to provide for the next cycle of crops. Furthermore, the inks used for printing on the bags purchased by our customers can at their instruction be water based, reducing the impact of solvent based inks on the environment. Stanelco's commercial and development activities take place in the UK, with manufacture provided by Biotec, its German subsidiary jointly owned with SPhere S.A. Stanelco recently invested in further capacity at the German production factory, enabling it to have the capacity of producing annually the bioplastics that could replace some 2.9 billion conventional plastic bags. That equates to approximately 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 to supply the materials required to make plastic products that use sustainable resources and minimise man's impact on the environment. Adoption of our green technology is growing rapidly and customer interest is high; and we are working with our partners and customers to deliver this as rapidly as possible'. For further information please visit www.stanelcoplc.com. For further information please contact: Stanelco Paul Mines, Chief Executive, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 867100 Press: FD Jonathon Brill/Caroline Stewart, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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