Ecofuture Sees Biomass Products Revenue Growing 10% This Year

PETALING JAYA, June 19 (Bernama) -- Ecofuture Bhd expects revenue contribution of its sustainable products derived from oil palm biomass materials to grow by 10 percent in the financial year ending Dec 31, 2007 due to growing overseas demand, said executive chairman Jang Lim Kuang.She told Bernama recently that 95 percent of the group's export earnings come from these products which include natural oil palm fibre strands under the Ecofibre brand, and the bio-degradeable mulching and soil erosion geotextile mat under the Ecomat brand.Another segment under Ecofuture's belt are the environment-friendly food and general packaging products, which are also bio-degradeable, toxic-free, compostable, microwaveable and made from natural palm fibre, said Jang."The potential for non-wood virgin pulp is great overseas as many countries are strict on preserving their forests, especially in the West. That's why the oil palm pulp price is high at the moment," Jang said."Of course, we are constantly upgrading our products as well."Jang pointed out that although Malaysians are not averse to using environment-friendly products, the premium price deters them."But that is not the case for Europeans and Americans who are into these things especially when it comes to food containers. As long as they can save the environment and themselves from harmful chemicals used in styrofoams and polysterene plastics, they will buy these types of products," she added.According to her, almost 80 percent of the organic shops in Kuala Lumpur are using Ecopak containers and utensils.On the Ecomat, the geotextile mat which helps retain moisture and grows grass and vegetation, Jang said it is gaining interest from West Asian customers who use it in the desert."The Arabs became interested in Ecomat for vegetation on the sand dunes after we successfully planted the mats in the desert, on the outskirts of Beijing, China," she said.She added that the group will be further promoting the Ecomat at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing following a government-to-government effort to promote local products there.Meanwhile, Jang said, the group aims to develop and diversify its downstream business from the existing products."Oil palm milling may be our core business, but Ecofuture wants its overall forward looking plan to be based on an environment-friendly dream. This is something I can see us doing in the future," she said.