Since DuPont Malaysia launched its Environmental Protection Programme for outdoor Advertising (EPPOA) two years ago, more companies are showing interest in doing their bit for environmental conservation. Eight, including Petronas, KFC/Pizza Hut, Ayamas and Maxiz have Aigned up for the programme and are using recyclable signs and banners manufactured byDuPont.
DuPont Tyvek graphics and envelopes segment manager Daniel Lim said the company was providing an environment-friendly option after seeing many banners and signs improperly discarded at the end of a campaign.
“At the end of the campaign, we collect the Tyvek signs and banners to be recycled at our recycling center in Shah Alam,” he said at a media briefing on Sep 30.
Tyvek is made of 100% high-density polyethylene fibres which are resistant to heat and water.
After an advertising campaign, the signs and banners will be collected by DuPont or a licensed contractor.
At the recycling center, they will be crushed, mixed with sawdust or rice husks.
The mixture will then be compressed into pellets before being moulded into playground equipment, factory flooring, wall panels and park benches.
Lim said DuPont had spent RM120,000 to publicise the program, which included sponsoring the Carrefour recycling center.
“So far, we have collected 30,000kg of used signs and banners. We want to work with local authorities in collecting the banners.
“We want to extend the programme to other applications and to the region as well,” he added.
He said although DuPont has managed to achieve its 20% target to recycle used signs and banners, much more needed to be done to meet the Government’s target of recycling 8% of all garbage in the country by 2010.
For the EPPOA programme, Lim and his two collegues – Vivien Tan and Lim Lee Guan – won an award at the recent DuPont Sustainable Growth Excellence Award 2004 held in Wilmington US.
DuPont Malaysia managing Director Dr Hapiz Abdullah said the win was a result of team effort.
“Locally, I hope this will act as a catalyst for other companies to copy our programme and propogate the importance of recycling in Malaysia,” he said.
He said however, demand for the end products (made from the recycling Tyvek signs and Banners) was low.
“When promoting the end products, we rely on the recycler, Winner Spectrum Sdn Bhd. We are not familiar in this area,” he said, adding that DuPont had to look into making a variety of recycled products other than construction materials.
We are trying to sell the recycled products. We only make money from selling Tyvek signs and banners. We so not make money from recycling them,” Said Dr Hapiz.
“If there is no demand, we will donate the wooden panels and benches to Petronas or KFC/Pizza Hut or convert them into something useful,” he said
