Producing articles with avocado and corn seed resin, and products with additives that allow the decomposition of plastic in less time, are some of the strategies proposed by the sector to overcome the obstacles faced in the region.
As in the rest of the world, there have been several attempts in Central America to ban the use of some plastic products.
The plastic industry in the new geopolitical and economic environment is the theme of the free conference to be held on September 29th for Costa Rican entrepreneurs.
The organizers of the international exhibition PlastImagen, which will be held from November 7 to 10 in Mexico City, are inviting businesspeople from Costa Rica to attend the conference entiled "The plastic industry in a new geopolitical and geo-economic environment."
While businesses and organizations try to reduce consumption of products such as plastic straws, bags or food packaging, the plastic industry is warning about the economic, health and environmental risks of these measures.
Measures to discourage the consumption of plastic products such as straws and bags pose significant challenges to companies that implement them, such as increasing costs when replacing plastic products with other reusable or recyclable products.
In 2016 the value of imported plastic and its manufactures in the region amounted to $3.668 million, equivalent to 1.7 million tons, 9% more than the volume purchased in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Plastics and its Manufactures, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In 2015 the countries of the region exported $1000 million worth of plastic and plastic products, led by Costa Rica and El Salvador, with $354 million and $337 million respectively.
MarketDataon Plastics and Plastic Products in Central America,compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com, shows that in 2015 the countries of the region exported 480 thousand tons ofplastics and articles made of plastic, with a total value of $1056 million.
Flour made from plantains can be used to produce biodegradable plastic products with high capacity.
From an article by the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Biodegradable plastic made from plantain flour
Experts from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (IPN) have created a flour made from plantain, which can be used to produce biodegradable plastic products with high capacity.
Disposal of used tires can be converted into a business which helps to alleviate the serious environmental problem they cause.
It is estimated that every year in Central America approximately nine million tires are thrown away. For example, in Panama, a country that has a poor used tire collection system, they are thrown into streams or the sea and they even end up on Patacón mountain.
The next stage for recycling will see companies recovering their own used products and recycling them in a responsible and innovative manner.
Even though in times of recession economic interests tend to mean environmental issues get ignored, the search for sustainable lifestyles will remain a pressing issue in the coming years.
Consumers are increasingly aware not only of the financial value of their purchases, but the ecological and material value of things, and of their responsibility to care for the environment. This whole-view awareness is known as "eco-psychology."
The recycling industry grows in the region as a way to save costs, create jobs and protect the environment.
"Nicaragua has exported until October of this year about 40 million Dollars in recyclable material, primarily iron, while in 2009 it exported 24 million Dollars," stated as evidence of the sector´s growth Carlos Marin, president of the Recycling Association of that country.
About 3600 tons of garbage end up being buried in landfills every day in Panama, and 90% of this waste could be recycled, turning trash into cash.
According to environmental experts, 90% of this waste could be recycled, turning trash into cash. And there are several Panamanian businessmen taking advantage of it.
There are many examples of the business: from obsolete computer equipment, in which they remove the chips and cards sent to the U.S., where it is processed and small parts containing gold removed; to paper, paperboard, plastic containers, packaging and even home appliances.
Costa Rica's upcoming law for Solid Waste Management introduces obligations for individuals and organizations; these open a whole new array of business opportunities.
The law, which comes into effect soon, will force companies to review, and potentially reorganize its productive processes, by quantifying and analyzing the waste they cause.
Elfinancierocr.com reviewed some of the actions undertaken by companies, such as Kimberly Clark, that owns a paper recycling plant which processes its own waste and paper from other companies.
The retail multinational will execute a regional program called “Planeta Vida” (“Planet Life”).
It includes converting illumination systems at its 350 parking lots across Central America.
The project will be completed in 2012, and could reduce the company’s energy consumption in 50%, reported Elfinancierocr.com. In Costa Rica, the company invested $1 million in this initiative.
A report by the British Government reignited the controversy surrounding the effectiveness and validity of oxo-degradable plastics.
Oxo-degradable plastics decompose faster than others, by incorporating chemical additives which trigger the degradation process.
Such technology was born in the 1980’s, together with controversy regarding their usage, whether they really are bio-degradable and the eventual toxicity of their waste.
In Honduras, Grupo Intur, in alliance with the American company Filtafry, will recycle 36,000 gallons of vegetable oil that was used in restaurants.
Grupo Intur is the first Honduran food production company carrying out this environmentally-friendly practice of recycling the vegetable oil used by restaurants.
According to Elheraldo.hn, "The firm Filtafry will take charge of collecting, cleaning, and processing the oil so that it can be used as a raw material in the production of agricultural concentrates."
From Thursday, March 12 to Sunday, March 15, thirty Taiwanese companies will exhibit their products at the traditional fair.
The exhibition will be held in the Expocentro facilities.
Juan Carlos Rivera from Tiempo.hn reported: "Companies from the industrial sector will showcase textile machinery, construction tools, plastic recyclers, electronics, cloths and other goods."