Page 19 - Plastics News September 2021

FEATURE

Dr Bio That Helps Bio-Degradation

Starting with the production of traditional plastics the Company Hi-Tech International now has
more than 600 corrosion prevention products in its portfolio, serving 10,000 customers worldwide

Dr Bio - Sustainable versions of
plastic
The bio-polymer produced by the
company, called Dr Bio, is said to
replace single and multi-use plastic
that are used to make several products.
Mukul Sareen, Director of Business
Development, says that the idea to
come up with such a product came in
the year 2016 when the whole world
was talking about the environment. He
says, “The world is very serious about
environment and sustainability. Towards
this, we wanted to create polymers that
ost of us have come across later, Hi-Tech International has more would create different products.” Already
Mbioplastics in some form or other, than 600 corrosion prevention products manufacturing VCI films, papers, foils
whether it be shopping bags or bin in its portfolio, serving 10,000 customers and much more, the company had the
bags for organic waste. They're also worldwide. At present, besides India, Hi- requisite expertise to explore something
commonly used in food packaging: for Tech’s manufacturing plants are in Italy, in this field as well.
vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, drinks and France, Dubai, and the US. Its Ludhiana
dairy products. It is now more imperative unit, where it manufactures the bio- According to Mukul, the research
than ever to work around sustainable polymers, has a combined capacity of and development (R&D) towards
alternatives for plastic, and Gurugram- producing 6000 tonnes of the product this started immediately after, and the
based Hi-Tech International has recently every year, according to the company. company rolled its first bio-polymer as
innovated a product that could help Hi-Tech calims to be the first company a pilot in 2019. Now, Dr Bio has been
complete biodegradationona period of in the country to manufacture plant-based approved and certified by the Institute
ver 12-14 weeks provide just the right bio-polymer. Their latest installment, of Petrochemicals Technology. Dr. Bio
solution. The company recently launched Dr. Bio, has received approval from the products are 100 percent compostable,
a plant-based bio-polymer, manufactured Institute of Petrochemicals Technology claims the company. The basic raw
at its unit in Ludhiana. Bio-polymers are (formerly known as Central Institute material to produce this bio-polymer
natural polymers produced by the cells of Petrochemicals Engineering & product is corn, which is further used to
of living organisms. Plastics made with Technology or CIPET). They believe this make products like bottles, containers,
bio-polymers, unlike their synthetic uniquely positions Hi-Tech to “redefine lamination films, shopping, carry bags,
counterparts, are known to disintegrate and transform the plastic industry towards
sooner. Started in 1982 by Jasbeer sustainable bio-compostable plastic.”
Sareen the company is now looked Backed by a 250,000 sq ft manufacturing
after by his sons - Sidharth and Mukul facility in Ludhiana for commercial
Sareen. While the company started manufacturing of the biopolymer, the
with the production of traditional company believes that it’s “well poised to
plastics then, it gradually moved to the create a strong foothold for itself even as
production of polymers, anti-corrosion the government takes stringent measures
products and more. Nearly 40 years to phase out single-use plastic”.

19 PLASTICS NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021