Will There Be Help for Plastics and Styrofoam Businesses to Transition to Biodegradables?

Percival Cho

And so the phase out is a staggered process that starts with the importation followed by local production. The ban will affect the bottom line and even see many importers and local producers of plastics and Styrofoam close down that part of their business. And so while it is a win for the environment – jobs may be at risk and the economic contributions of these businesses will stop. C.E.O. Cho says that his Ministry is engaging other partners to see what kind of support can be offered to businesses that want to transition to biodegradables.

Dr. Percival Cho, C.E.O., Ministry of Environment

“These companies are very much willing and a part of the endeavour. So we have engaged them in open discussion, frank discussion about their conditions and restrictions and some of their concerns. Through BELTTRAIDE and Ministry of Investment, we have been working on developing certain recommendations that can be passed up to the policy makers, decision makers regarding what incentive package we can offer, we can provide, what encourage in terms of business incentives can be provided to local companies to transition over in to making more biodegradable products. Secondly, in terms of the targeted products that we are phasing out, remember there are a few items Styrofoam clamshells, plastic cups, plates etc. But there will still be need for packaging Styrofoam material to put on the chicken meat, other meats, egg trays etc. So there will still be some productions of it but not the items that were listed to be phased out.”