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Symphony Environmental TechnologiesAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 4271Z  Symphony Environmental Tech. PLC  07 April 2026

 

This is a Reach (i.e. non-regulatory) announcement and the information
contained is not considered to be material or to have a significant impact on
management's expectations of the Company's performance.

Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc

("Symphony" or the "Company")

Analysis of UK Government Report Confirms d2w® Biodegradable Plastic Is
Proven, Tested and Safe

Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc ("Symphony" or "the Company") a global
leader in "smarter, safer, and sustainable" plastic and rubber technologies,
is delighted to announce that a comprehensive scientific analysis confirms
that oxo‑biodegradable plastic technology is a proven, well‑established
solution, supported by decades of independent testing and real‑world use.

The analysis demonstrates that this technology is not experimental, novel or
untested, but is based on over 50 years of polymer science, more than 30 years
of global commercial use, and extensive testing by leading scientists and
internationally accredited laboratories.

The evidence shows that d2w® plastics are specifically designed to degrade
safely in the open environment and then biodegrade without leaving behind
persistent microplastics, while remaining compatible with existing recycling
systems where collection occurs.

The Biodegradable Plastics Association (BPA) has today published its response
https://www.biodeg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BPA-RESPONSE-31.3.26.pdf
(https://www.biodeg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BPA-RESPONSE-31.3.26.pdf)
to the UK Government's 2025 HSAC Report    This BPA paper demonstrates
conclusively that there is no technical, scientific, or safety‑based reason
to prohibit or discourage the use of oxo‑biodegradable polyethylene (PE) and
polypropylene (PP), provided they are correctly manufactured, and assessed
using the appropriate international standards.

First, the paper establishes that oxo‑biodegradable plastic is not an
experimental or unproven technology. It has been in continuous scientific
development for over fifty years, and has been in commercial use for 20 years.
It was invented by leading polymer scientists, and is supported by a coherent
and well‑understood mechanism: - controlled oxidative chain scission
followed by biological assimilation.

It is fundamentally different from composting and mere physical fragmentation,
and it does not leave microplastics. This two‑stage process is recognised
and understood in the international technical literature and Standards, and
there is no credible dispute in polymer science that oxidation reduces
molecular weight and that sufficiently oxidised polyolefins are biodegradable.
This has been demonstrated in the real world, notably by the Oxomar project.

Second, the paper shows that the correct technical benchmark already exists.
ASTM D6954 (and aligned national standards such as BS 8472) was specifically
written to assess plastics intended to degrade and then biodegrade in the open
environment. These standards define what must be measured, how it must be
measured, and what constitutes pass or fail for degradation, biodegradation,
and environmental safety. The existence and long‑standing use of these
standards means there is no technical gap requiring new methodologies,
speculative testing regimes, or ad‑hoc academic proxies.

Third, the paper demonstrates that independent, ISO 17025‑accredited testing
has already proven performance. The Intertek test reports cited show high
levels of biodegradation of oxo‑biodegradable PE and PP, compliance with
ecotoxicity requirements, and-critically-the absence of persistent
microplastics. Molecular‑weight measurements confirm that any residual
particles no longer behave as plastics. From a regulatory and technical
standpoint, this directly addresses the principal concerns typically raised:
persistence, toxicity, and microplastic formation.

Fourth, the paper shows that claims of technical failure are driven by
inappropriate test protocols not by deficiencies in the technology. See
https://www.biodeg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BPA-Dossier-with-links-10-2-26-optimised-V13-31-Mar-26.pdf
(https://www.biodeg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BPA-Dossier-with-links-10-2-26-optimised-V13-31-Mar-26.pdf)
  Many academic papers which have passed peer-review, either test the wrong
materials, fail to characterise samples, use incorrect standards (e.g.
composting standards), terminate tests prematurely, or expose materials to
conditions for which they were not designed (such as burial or submersion).
The paper demonstrates that such studies cannot be used to draw valid
conclusions about the performance of properly made oxo‑biodegradable
plastics.

Fifth, the paper addresses geographical variability directly and shows that
variation in degradation rate is not technical failure. Like all chemical and
biological processes, oxo‑biodegradation proceeds more slowly in cooler or
lower‑UV conditions, but there is no evidence that the process fails, stops,
or reverses. This behaviour is entirely consistent with established kinetics.

No regulatory principle requires uniform degradation speed across climates,
only predictable and demonstrable performance relative to conventional
plastics-which oxo‑biodegradable materials are intended to replace.

Sixth, the paper confirms that oxo‑biodegradable plastic is compatible with
recycling, unlike some alternative materials that are nevertheless permitted
on the market. There is therefore no technical incompatibility with
circular‑economy objectives for collected material, while still providing a
clear environmental advantage for plastic that inevitably escapes collection.

Taken together, the evidence shows that oxo‑biodegradable plastic such as
d2w®:

·      functions as designed;

·      is supported by established polymer science and long user;

·      is testable and verifiable using recognised standards;

·      has been independently proven to biodegrade without creating
persistent microplastics or ecotoxicity; and

·      performs better than conventional plastic if it gets into the
open environment, which is the only context in which its designed function is
relevant.

Accordingly, this paper demonstrates that there is no technical justification
for prohibition, restriction, or regulatory exclusion of oxo‑biodegradable
plastics.

 

For further information, please contact:

Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc

Tel: +44 (0)20 8207 5900

Website: https://www.symphonyenvironmental.com

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

Symphony also supplies a range of plastic technologies under its d2p (designed
to protect) brand www.d2p.net (http://www.d2p.net)   to provide protection
against insects, viruses, bacteria, fungi, rodents, odours, and fire.  It has
also introduced a new product under its NbR brand
https://www.symphonyenvironmental.com/natural-biodegradable-resin/
(https://www.symphonyenvironmental.com/natural-biodegradable-resin/)   to
reduce the amount of fossil-derived material in plastic products.

Symphony has a diverse and growing customer-base and has established itself as
an international business with over 70 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
certified according to ISO9001 and ISO14001.

Symphony 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 Group can be found at
www.symphonyenvironmental.com

 

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