It is important to examine the current state of bio-based polymers. This includes the rapidly growing production capacity, significant investments currently underway in China, Europe, and the Middle East, and the new political conditions in Europe that are driving demand for biodegradable polymers.
Swedish-Swiss technology conglomerate ABB has won a contract from NatureWorks to automate the bioplastics producer’s proposed greenfield polylactic acid (PLA) plant in Thailand. NatureWorks is planning to spend more than $600 million on the facility in Nakhon Sawan province, which will ferment and distill plant-based sugars and convert them first to lactic acid, then lactide and polymerize them into Ingeo PLA.
GC International and Cargill, the parent companies of biopolymer producer NatureWorks, have given their final approval for construction of a new Ingeo polylactic acid (PLA) manufacturing complex in Thailand.
