KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has challenged manufacturing company WISYNCO, to explore the use of hemp in its styrofoam production to create more biodegradable containers.

Holness’ recommendation comes on the heels of the Senate passing a resolution that seeks Government intervention into reducing the use of plastic bags and styrofoam containers and their threat to the environment.

The motion called for Jamaica to ban the importation of plastic bags below 50-gallon capacity and all finished goods made from styrofoam, as well as the curtailing of production of those items in Jamaica – unless they include an enzyme capable of making them biodegradable.

The resolution was passed in the Upper House on Friday, October 7.

“There is always one solution to these problems and it is called innovation. You said it in your presentation that this is an authentic Jamaican company and one of the things that distinguishes Jamaicans from other people that makes us authentic is our creativity,” Holness reasoned with chairman of the WISYNCO Group, William Mahfood, during a tour of the company’s White Marl factory on Wednesday.

“Our ability to tun we han’ mek fashion – that is the same thing as innovation. When you came out with the bigger better soft drink, that was innovation. We can innovate; it’s within our DNA, within our culture.

“So I’m challenging you, the captains of the industry. There is such a thing called hemp which can be used in these kinds of manufacturing to create substitutes for disposables. I think Jamaica has a long-standing affinity with the near cousin of that plant that you might want to seriously look at it,” Holness continued.

WISYNCO is currently the only producer of styrofoam containers in Jamaica.

Karena Bennett