Dedicated to Better Lives
The D&L Dictionary (July 30, 2021)

v.  ded·i·cat·ed : devoted to a cause, ideal, or purpose : zealous

Two brothers started a company in 1963, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing colorants, chemicals, and additives for the plastic, paint, and ink industries.  By the time they formally incorporated the company as D&L Industries in 1971, it was a rough time to run an enterprise.  Buckling down to work, Dean Lao thought, “Doing business in the Philippines is a challenge.  I look at the positive side.  There’s an opportunity in everything.”

D&L thrived.  Thinking back, Leon Lao mused, “We grew in spite of this crisis.  Whatever the circumstance, it is the drive, hard work, and attitude that matter.  That is what the spirit of an entrepreneur is all about.”

Being in business is no mean feat.  Look no further than our founding brothers to see how the passion to overcome the odds could nurture a dream to great heights.  From just two thousand pesos in hand all those decades ago, here and now, in the midst of a pandemic in 2021, D&L Industries is valued at over 57 billion pesos in the Philippine Stock Market.

Dedication, devotion, zeal.  This is the secret sauce that drives every ka-D&L.

adv.  bet·ter : to a higher or greater degree : more

“It should be a matter of doing what you do best.”

— Alex Lao

We do not settle.  Hindi pwedeng pwede na.

We simply do better.  Our products are better.  Our service is better.  We are better.

No ifs, no buts.  Fact.

adj.  bet·ter : more attractive, favorable, or commendable

It shows in the products we create & innovate for our clients & consumers, be it the perfect shade of teal for their wall, the perfect blend of taste & aroma for their sauce, the perfect balance of care & scent for their skin.

This is where each and every ka-D&L counts.  When sales & marketing deliver above & beyond what their clients need & expect, when technical & production meticulously fine tune their formulations & processes for quality & efficiency, when supply chain, finance, & admin ensure the smooth running of the engine that is D&L, the result is a better product.  We provide a better service.

Edwin Lao sums it best.  “D&L’s most important asset is our dynamic and loyal employees.  How the company will grow and prosper in the next 50 years will be dependent on how we hire, train, and retain the best talents.”

n.  plural lives : the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual

Why do we do what we do?

We do it for God.  We do it for country.  We do it for family.  We do it for us.

By so doing, we cannot help but be driven, for these are the most important things in life.  We have a burning desire to do well… nay, to do our best!

Every good word and every good deed fuel the fire even more.  Every task well done makes it easier for the next task to be done better.  We do well, we feel great.

Our peers get infected with our joie de vivre.  Our products are delightful, our services, par excellence.  Our customers & stakeholders are gratified.

The factory hums & thrums with efficiency.  There is little or no waste.  The community prospers.  The environment is cleaner.

Our lives are better.

“We are always passionate about what we do.  We were the first to come into the market, and we can’t be stagnant.  We can’t take it easy or be complacent.  We work together for long term growth.”

— John Lao

This is us.

We are D&L.

For FY2022, D&L Industries recorded its highest ever net income, demonstrating a full recovery from the COVID pandemic amidst a confluence of macroeconomic headwinds.  The P3.3 billion of earnings exceeds the company’s previous record of net income achieved in 2018.  The company’s full year 2022 net income stood at P3.3bn, higher by 26% YoY.  In 4Q22 alone, earnings were up 62% YoY to P777 million.  These results outperformed expectations and were mainly driven by strong consumer spending amidst wider economic reopening and the company’s exports undergoing resilient growth.  The three biggest business segments of the company—food ingredients, oleochemicals and other specialty chemicals, and specialty plastics—all booked positive earnings growth for the year which were either at record highs or slightly below.

D&L’s robust earnings for the year demonstrate its ability to weather various macroeconomic conditions given its diversified businesses, the essential nature of the products it manufactures, and its ability to adjust its selling prices regularly.

The Company has no history of substantiated complaints on marketing and labelling and, therefore, no complaints addressed.

Most of its products and services are offered to business entities and not directly to consumers.  They only indicate the product name, packing size, and batch number on the labels.

Customers provide information for purposes of applying for credit extension.  The information is both private and confidential and, therefore, is treated with utmost care to prevent leakage.  Once the credit application has been approved, the Customer Information Sheet is kept by a Marketing Assistant for safekeeping.  A separate form is prepared and submitted to the Accounting department.  It contains information needed only for customer account creation and does not contain any unnecessary personal information.  Access to the customer data master file is limited only to an assigned person who is at least supervisory level.

The Company is committed and motivated to protect its customers’ information.

Aero-Pack’s adherence to green chemistry has made many a home beneficiaries of organically sourced household products.  These eco-friendly products have provided families peace of mind—secure in the belief that the likes of insect killers and dishwashing detergents are safer and greener.

Chemrez’ green innovations have provided coco-based wellness solutions for health-conscious consumers.  The remarkable market acceptance of its medium chain triglyceride (MCT), Laurin™, is a strong testimony to the company’s green advocacy.

D&L Polymer & Colours (DLPC) has developed a key raw material—durable and non-toxic—used in the production of the toy sensation, Hatchimals.  The use of raw materials on other products of DLPC also complies with the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substance) requirement.

First in Colours provides business solutions to companies given the potential ban on single-use plastics.

Oleo-Fats’ standard operating procedures mandate that all food-related products undergo shelf life studies, microbial, and sensory tests to ensure these remain safe for human consumption until the end of shelf life.

Focusing on what the customer wants and needs, subscribing to green chemistry and subjecting finished products to rigorous testing processes have helped the Company develop products that are healthy and safe for humans and the environment.

In the sphere of ever-evolving technology, data security and privacy have become increasingly important topics.  With the emergence of alternative working arrangements, threats to cybersecurity are at an all-time high.  The Company recognizes this, and ensures that various controls are in place to secure all pertinent data.  It is compliant with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and all other regulations set forth by the National Privacy Commission.

An appointed Data Protection Officer (DPO) oversees and monitors all topics concerning cybersecurity.  The success of a cybersecurity program hinges on how well a company’s employees understand the importance of the policies, and how consistently these rules are followed.  Thus, a data security and privacy awareness program is permanently in operation.  It includes a monthly wallpaper and email newsletter, as well as regular online training on cybersecurity.

The Company makes extensive use of data sharing agreements with clients, third parties, and sister companies.  Client information is treated as strictly confidential, even between subsidiaries, and client permission is always sought before it is shared.  When and where applicable as required by law, a privacy notice is displayed on all external websites for the information of site visitors.  Privacy impact assessments are regularly conducted to evaluate each department on processes that collect or process personal information.  Departments that deal with a large volume of sensitive information and those that are at high-risk of data breaches are also closely monitored by the DPO.

The Company employs an in-house team of safety officers trained in firefighting, rescue, and emergency response.  These assets are deployed not just for contingencies in its offices, warehouses, and facilities, but also to assist local communities and government and volunteer teams during emergencies and natural calamities.  

The Company also fields volunteers in such diverse civic activities as tree planting, river clean-up, fumigation, firefighting, and first aid training in and around its communities