D&L Industries Unlocks Scalable Sustainability With Market-Ready Abaca Plastic Pellets
D&L Industries, through its subsidiary D&L Polymer & Colours, Inc. (DLPC), has marked a major milestone in sustainable materials innovation with the launch of a 100% abaca plastic pellet designed for direct use in plastics compounding. The development builds on DLPC’s earlier breakthrough in integrating natural fibers into plastics and represents a pivotal step toward large-scale, industry-wide adoption.
Previously, the use of abaca in plastic composites required DLPC to manage compounding and downstream applications internally. With the introduction of a standardized pellet format, DLPC can now supply abaca as a ready-to-use input that plastic compounders can seamlessly incorporate into their own formulations. This advancement significantly broadens the range of potential applications and enables natural fibers to move upstream into the wider plastics value chain.
The new pellet technology transforms abaca—an abundant, renewable resource widely regarded as the strongest natural fiber—into an additive that fits easily within existing manufacturing processes. By allowing manufacturers to adopt natural fibers without modifying their production systems, the innovation lowers barriers to sustainability and accelerates commercialization.
“Pelletization is the turning point that makes natural fibers practical at scale,” said DLPC President and CEO Lester Lao. “With a ready-to-compound 100% abaca pellet, manufacturers can integrate sustainability into their products without changing how they operate. Our proprietary technology can also be applied to other locally sourced fibers such as pineapple, bakong, and vetiver, expanding the Philippines’ potential as a supplier of high-value, bio-based materials.”
Natural fiber composites offer performance benefits alongside environmental gains. They are strong, resilient, and lightweight—light enough to float in water—making them suitable for applications ranging from consumer durables and packaging to construction materials and automotive components. At end of life, products made with these composites can enter conventional recycling or waste diversion systems and, depending on formulation, may also be compostable, supporting a more circular materials economy.
From a sustainability standpoint, the impact is significant. Current formulations allow natural fibers to replace up to 40% of virgin polymers, with the potential to increase further as technology advances. This reduces reliance on fossil-based plastics while enhancing strength, durability, and weight efficiency.
DLPC is actively working with partners in consumer goods, packaging, construction, and automotive sectors to develop real-world applications using the new abaca pellet. Through joint development programs and market education initiatives, the company aims to guide manufacturers in transitioning toward natural fiber–enhanced materials.
“This milestone represents a new chapter in our natural fiber journey,” Lao added. “What began as a long-held vision has become a commercially viable solution that can help industries meet their sustainability goals. The 100% abaca pellet is a meaningful step toward a more sustainable, fiber-integrated future for plastics.”
