Symphony Environmental Technologies (AIM:SYM), the AIM-listed specialist in additives that make plastic products smarter, safer and more sustainable, said Colombia's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has accepted scientific evidence supporting the use of its d2w biodegradable technology in polyethylene films and bags.
The confirmation came in writing to E.H.G. Color Plast, a Colombian manufacturer of polyethylene films and bags, which submitted evidence showing products made with a d2w masterbatch comply with Article 34 of Law 2232 of 2022 and conditions set out in Article 19 of Resolution 0803 of 2024.
Symphony noted that the confirmation is not itself a product approval or certification, but it confirms the submitted evidence satisfies the statutory requirements, which allows Color Plast to market its d2w films and bags as a biodegradable alternative rather than facing prohibition under Colombia's single-use plastics framework.
It follows the ministry's approval of d2w for polypropylene drinking straws, announced on 22 September, meaning the regulatory pathway now covers both polypropylene and polyethylene applications in a market Symphony estimates consumes 1.3 million tonnes of plastic a year across a population of 54 million.
The evidence behind Color Plast's submission was based on ASTM D6954 testing carried out by Intertek, accredited to ISO 17025, covering both biodegradation and non-toxicity, and the same report was jointly funded by three other manufacturers of similar films and bags whose own applications are now before the ministry.
Symphony said it and its local partners are working to convert the regulatory progress into sales, providing converters, brand owners and retailers with guidance on the legal pathway to adopt d2w and market biodegradable products in Colombia.
The announcement follows Symphony's disclosure on 28 September that ten further independent studies on d2w had been completed by ISO 17025-accredited laboratories, testing polyethylene and polypropylene applications against standards including ASTM D6954, ISO 15985, ISO 17556 and ISO 24187, and recording 98.7% aerobic biodegradation and 91.06% anaerobic biodegradation with no toxicity or microplastics found.
"This second confirmation from the Colombian government is significant because it extends regulatory recognition of d2w technology beyond polypropylene products to polyethylene films and bags," said chief executive Michael Laurier, adding that the developments "strengthen Symphony's commercial position in Colombia and provide a platform for further growth across Latin America and around the world."