for more information about stanelco click on the links.

driver's research page link
http://www.moneyam.com/InvestorsRoom/posts.php?tid=7681#lastread
website link
http://www.stanelco.co.uk/index.htm

hopefully the 'hype' has left the share and the punters left in are in for the
long(ish) haul.
Still havbe faith that this share will rocket in due course.

Curious about the supply of the Tesco carrier bags, I e-mailed them and got the following reply today:

"Thank you for your e-mail on the subject of carrier bags. Whilst in active
landfill, our degradable bags will quickly disintergrate breaking down into
small fragments which are ultimately consumed by micro-organisms (
bacteria,fungi,algi) and will break down into CO2 , water, minerals and
organic matter, leaving no harmful residue.

We are currently looking at starch based products as an alternative. We are
working on a number of challenges - the need to source sufficient supply of
the base materials and also developing the technology in order to supply
bags of the right quality"

Interesting!

Garyble,

A nice bit of info. I especially like the "We are currently looking at starch based products as an alternative". No doubt they will have followed the progress re Asda/Stanelco. Will be very interesting to see what awaits the end of exclusivity.

Those starch based products that Tesco are looking at could well be the ones that are already being used for drinks (actually on sale now) by other firms rather than Stanelco's possibilities.

They well could be zscrooge. Well observed!

Looks like all bets have been placed and all are now waiting for the wheel to stop spinning!

That's beginning to look like a double bottom - and then all systems go!

Eric

Zscrooge,

Yes possibly, but it was the implied connection with the carries bag mention that made me think it could be a possible future SEO connection.

Could also be BASF - they worry me. They have the capacity to really gatecrash the party.

See here http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=64364-basf-natureworks-biodegradable

'Ecovio can be used to produce flexible films from which biodegradable carrier bags or other packaging can be made. '

has anyone done the dirty deed and e-mailed tesco's and asked who they are talking too?

Tweenie,

I thought that would be going a step too far and would have received nothing of significance. As it is, the suspicion was that Symphony had possibly won the business, but if Tesco are looking at starch-based bio-plastics then I believe that would rule out Symphony.

BASF is using 45% PLA and the remainder a petro-plastic {ecoflex} to produce Ecovio so not as eco-friendly as 100% starch-based plastic IMO and probably not as cost competitive.

Nokia (Finland), electronics company, has been developing biodegradable plastics for telecommunications in co-operation with plastics producers for several years.

The project is aimed at the safe and sound treatment of the plastic parts of discarded mobile phones, which should degrade into water, carbon dioxide and compost. Biodegradable plastics will not influence products' quality or look and will be as durable as the materials used so far.

Take your point. gary, but BASF are more likely to be able to deliver than SEO seem able to at present - they have a proven marketing record and are used to dealing with large companies. This could outweigh the downside you mention and make it more attractive to some.

I also thought the same re Garyble ie...BASF is using 45% PLA and the remainder a petro-plastic {ecoflex} to produce Ecovio so not as eco-friendly as 100% starch-based plastic IMO and probably not as cost competitive. Also how far are BASF behind in the race to get a 100% none petro based product up to the testing / approval line and then full production, contracts and sales. But as said a few days ago the race is definitely on, with Seo a fair bit in the lead. Lets hope companies, who as Oblomov state have a proven track record don't overtake Seo on the last bend so to speak.

Sorry wrong thread

Further thoughts on this, I wonder whether the 'common' consumer would care or even know that their carrier bags used 55% ecoflex. It would be enough for Tesco (for example) to announce they are using biodegradable bags - they are not going to go into the exact composition of the bags. The consumer would be none the wiser - there will be no difference between SEO bags and BASF bags as far as they are concerned.

Lets face it, the likes of Tesco are only going to move in the direction of BD as a PR job, to keep the customers happy and not be 'out-greened' by the opposition. They are not going to do this because they are concerned about the environment!

I wouldn't think cost would be an issue - a company the size of BASF can make this cost effective for a year or two to see off competition like SEO. SEO need to turn a profit quickly, BASF can wait.

Thats why I see BASF as a threat - hope I'm wrong.

I agree that the likes of Tesco are only going green to keep the customer happy ( happy customer, more profit ) but as with all things competition is the key. When it comes down to the nitty gritty no doubt the company who is more green, IE 100% none petroleum based product, can advertise as such against a competitor. Companies as we know are always looking for an edge over a rival.
But yes all companies such as BASF are a real threat. The positive side is that with competition, SEO will have to pull out all the stops, if not as you rightly say companies such as the size of BASF can wait to turn a profit, SEO can't.

From the 2nd May AGM statement:

"GREENSEAL permits large scale recyclability of oil based plastics and is energy
efficient, whilst Starpol is the world's leading product in sustainable
packaging materials that gives, in the case of Starpol 3000, a 100% sustainable,
biodegradable, low cost, functional alternative to conventional plastic. These
technologies appear to be without parallel in their respective markets."

I am presuming that for Phillip Lovegrove to state that last sentence he will be aware of all like competition and that they are all some way behind in terms of their reduction in environmental impact. I take this to include BASF, Symbphony, Natureworks etc. Maybe the way SEO might go will be to do a deal with a major like BASF who would then have the manufacturing & supply capacity together with the marketing muscle to push large scale uptake through quickly.

Any thoughts?

Dawall,

Re a deal with the likes of BASF. Yes a good point. I think that if SEO products take off as we all hope there may be many licencing deals to follow. Either way, SEO on their own in the future or tie-ins with others, the future looks rosy. As they say time will tell.

So, who is going to work out what those 3x6,394,464 trades were? It would be nice to think that something positive is about to happen!
kim