D&L Industries Inc., through its subsidiary D&L Polymer & Colours Inc., has launched a 100 percent abaca pellet designed for the manufacturing of sustainable plastic products. This marks the company’s entry into the commercial stage of natural fiber-based plastics.
The company said the new technology transforms abaca—a renewable resource considered the strongest natural fiber in the world—into a ready-to-use additive that fits seamlessly into the processes of plastic compounders and processors. D&L has begun marketing the pellets to potential customers across Asia and the Philippines for testing.
“Pelletization is the tipping point that finally makes natural fibers easy to use at scale,” said Lester Lao, DLPC president and chief executive. “With a ready-to-compound 100 percent abaca pellet, manufacturers can incorporate sustainability into their products without changing their processes, opening an entirely new market where abaca can be handled just like any conventional polymer ingredient.”
Lao added that the proprietary technology can also work with other locally sourced fibers such as pineapple, bakong, and vetiver, expanding the country’s potential to supply high-value bio-based materials.
DLPC said it can now supply abaca in a standardized format that upstream plastic compounders can blend directly into their formulations. This shift broadens potential applications and allows for more scalable adoption across the plastics value chain.
Natural fiber composites offer mechanical and chemical properties that complement traditional plastics while improving sustainability. These materials are strong, resilient, and lightweight, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, from consumer durables to construction materials and automotive components.
