Abaca pellets make plastics more sustainable

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February 1, 2026 | 12:00am

D&L’s breakthrough innovation

MANILA, Philippines — D&L Industries, through subsidiary D&L Polymer & Colours Inc. (DLPC), is advancing its natural fiber innovation with the introduction of a 100 percent abaca pellet for use in manufacturing plastic products that are more sustainable.

The advancement follows the company’s breakthrough innovation last year, when DLPC first demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating natural fibers like abaca into plastics.

Instead of DLPC exclusively processing the fibers into composite materials, the company can now supply abaca in a standardized pellet format that upstream plastic compounders can blend directly into their own formulations.

D&L said the shift dramatically widens potential applications and enables far more scalable adoption across the plastics value chain.

The transition from DLPC-centric compounding to a pelletized and market-ready input is seen to greatly accelerate the integration of natural fibers into mainstream production, aligning with global efforts to reduce plastic consumption and environmental impact.

D&L said DLPC is currently collaborating with manufacturers across consumer goods, packaging, construction and automotive sectors to develop practical applications using the new abaca pellet.

The company is likewise ramping up market education initiatives and joint development programs to guide partners through the transition to natural fiber–enhanced materials.

The new pellet technology transforms abaca, which is considered the strongest natural fiber in the world, into a ready-to-use additive that fits seamlessly into the manufacturing processes of plastic compounders and processors.

“This milestone marks a new chapter in our natural fiber journey. What began as an idea decades ago has now evolved into a commercially viable material that can help industries meet their sustainability goals, and we believe this is just the beginning of what natural fibers can achieve for the future of plastics,” DLPC president and CEO Lester Lao said.

“As we move toward broader commercialization, the 100 percent abaca pellet represents a transformative step toward a more sustainable, fiber-integrated plastics ecosystem,” he said.

Lao said the company’s proprietary technology can also work with other locally sourced fibers such as pineapple, bakong and vetiver, further expanding the country’s potential to supply high-value bio-based materials.

According to D&L, natural fiber composites offer inherent advantages that complement and enhance the mechanical and chemical performance of traditional plastics while significantly improving sustainability.

These materials exhibit strong and resilient characteristics and remain lightweight, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, it said.

The company said that with its unique properties, natural fiber composites can be used across diverse sectors, from everyday consumer durables to more demanding industrial uses in construction, automotive components and other engineered products.

At the end of their life cycle, products made with natural fiber composites can enter conventional recycling or waste diversion systems.

Depending on the formulation, they can also be made compostable to support greater circularity.

“Pelletization is the tipping point that finally makes natural fibers easy to use at scale. 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 said.