Why Wisynco making coloured Biodegradable Styrofoam heralds Beeswax Cardboard Packaging

“We are going to produce a more environmentally friendly type of Styrofoam which will be coloured. We are set to launch it in June and will eventually phase out the older type,”

Group CEO of Wisynco, Andrew Mahfood during a plastic waste forum on Wednesday May 11^th 2016 held by JET (Jamaica Environmental Trust) at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston

Looks like the ban on Styrofoam in Jamaica is happening.

CEO of the Group, Andrew Mahfood has revealed that Wisynco will soon stop making Styrofoam in Jamaica as noted in the article “Wisynco to produce environmentally friendly Styrofoam”, published May 12, 2016, LoopJamaica.

He made this declaration at a plastic waste forum on Wednesday May 11^th 2016 held by JET (Jamaica Environmental Trust) at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. The plan is to replace the traditional Styrofoam plastic with a new biodegradable Styrofoam. To distinguish it from traditional Styrofoam, the new Styrofoam will have a coloured mark or may be a different color altogether, most likely a peaceful colour like pink, blue or green.

He gave no details on when this would happen or if the new biodegradable Styrofoam would cost more. However, Andrew Mahfood did say that the older Styrofoam would gradually be phased out to be replaced by this newer form of Styrofoam.

So why is Wisynco doing this, especially as it may end up costing them more and pushing people to use packaging from competitors?

Group CEO of Wisynco, Andrew Mahfood fumbles on Radio - Commitment to Recycle Now Jamaica Project redeemed

This move probably came about because of pressure placed on Group CEO of Wisynco, Andrew Mahfood due to his reactions to G2K (Generation 2000) president Senator Matthew Samuda proposal to ban Styrofoam

His opinions were aired during a radio program in which he pointed out that his company made the majority of Styrofoam in Jamaica, being as Wisynco's core business was making plastic packaging as noted in the article “Annie Paul: Forget Trinidad, There’s Plenty To Boycott At Home”, Published Wednesday May 4, 2016 by Annie Paul, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Many Jamaicans were clearly upset with this disregard for the environment in light of the fact that Wisynco was one of seven (7) companies that had made commitment to recycle plastic under the Recycle Now Jamaica Project as reported in my blog article entitled “How GOJ JA$200 million Recycle Now Jamaica Project to Recycle PETE Plastic Waste will power JEEP”. 

These seven (7) companies had given their commitment to CEO of Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), Diana McCaulay, recycle their waste PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate):

1.      Wisynco Group

2.      Pepsi-Cola Jamaica

3.      GraceKennedy Foods and Services

4.      Jamaica Beverages

5.      Lasco

6.      Trade Winds Citrus

7.      Seprod

To add injury to insult, Wisynco had since September 2015 begun the process of going solar with their massive JA$200 million 1 MW Solar Power Plant as detailed in my blog article entitled “Wisynco Group 1 MW Solar Power Plant - British partnership with Padero Solar UK for conquest of Africa and India”. 

So his words spoken on that radio station made it look as if his company was merely making these changes to make money instead of genuinely caring for the environment, effectively a betrayal of the public trust in his company. As such, it made sense that Group CEO of Wisynco, Andrew Mahfood make this declaration at JET's plastic waste forum.

But is biodegradable plastic much better for the environment?

Biodegradable Styrofoam becomes microbeads - How Anti-litter legislation can jumpstart Biodegradable Packaging Industry

Biodegradable Styrofoam may sound like a good idea. But it may instead end up producing more plastic waste equivalent to microbeads.

Microbeads, which are used in exfoliating scrubs in shampoos and hand sanitizers but end up in river, sea and drinking water as a plastic pollutant is set to be banned in the US of A by 2017 as reported in my blog article entitled “How US microbeads ban by 2017 means NEPA ban coming to protect Coral Reefs”.

When biodegradable Styrofoam degrades, it results in smaller beads of plastic that have the equivalent effect of microbeads. The best option to reducing plastic pollution is to change the way we collect garbage as reported in my blog article entitled “How JA$100 for recycling 500ml Plastic bottles and Styrofoam Ban will save Jamaica's Environment”. 

Anti-litter legislation is needed to make littering carry a fine of JA$100,000 for every offense and the NWSMA should encourage people to separate their garbage into different colour coded bins for collection. Finally, an increase in the return value of plastic to JA$100 per 500ml bottle would make people more eager to recycle plastic, especially if that money can be go towards a JUTC SmarterCard.

But best off all, such anti-litter legislating could open up a Biodegradable Packaging Industry, such as the use of recycled cardboard or paper coated with Beeswax as explained in my blog article entitled “Why Guyana banning Styrofoam and How Jamaican Bee farmers can benefit”. 

Sustainable benefits to Jamaicans all around!