“Investing in a second production facility would support brand owners committed to environmentally preferable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics and would be a significant step forward for NatureWorks,” said Marc Verbruggen, president and chief executive officer. “We anticipate continued advancements in the resin’s performance, as well as an increase in the number of products and applications using Ingeo. We’re starting our assessment now, recognizing that typical timeframes for design and construction of such facilities can be three years after a decision is made.”
NatureWorks was the first company to manufacture a natural plastic resin in commercial quantities. Late 2008, the Ingeo facility in Blair, Nebraska, inaugurated a new manufacturing process that further lessened the CO2 emissions and reduced the energy required to produce Ingeo bioresin. By mid-year 2009, equipment installation and commissioning currently underway will allow the Blair facility to produce up to its full Ingeo design capacity of 140,000 metric tons (~ GBP300 million).
With performance and product appeal in targeted fibers and plastics applications, Ingeo has seen steady adoption and growth in markets that include packaging, consumer electronics, clothing, textiles, and personal care products.
