NatureWorks

Editorial team

NatureWorks celebrates construction milestone for new fully integrated “Ingeo” biopolymer manufacturing facility in Thailand

NatureWorks, the world’s leading manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, hosted a cornerstone laying and groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate construction of their new Ingeo PLA manufacturing complex in Thailand.

The ceremony which took place on February 1, 2023 commemorated the progress made to date on the new fully integrated biopolymer facility located on the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC) in Nakhon Sawan province.

The new facility is designed to be fully integrated and will include production sites for lactic acid, lactide, and polymer. With completion of the facility expected in the second half of 2024, the manufacturing site will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tons of Ingeo biopolymer and will produce the full portfolio of Ingeo biopolymer grades.

President and CEO of NatureWorks Rich Altice said “For the last 3 decades, we have been building not just a company or manufacturing facilities, but a whole new industry and market for low-carbon, renewable biomaterials that are revolutionizing the sustainability and safety of the materials we can use in our packaging, in our products, in our everyday lives.”

In November 2022, NatureWorks announced the selection of the TTCL Public Company Limited ( TTCL) as the general contractor for the project and that early-works construction for piling, underground piping, storm water management, and tank foundations was underway.

The expanded global production of Ingeo biopolymers will support growth in markets including 3D printing and hygiene as well as compostable coffee capsules, tea bags, flexible packaging, and food service ware that demand sustainable, low-carbon materials and require the high-performance attributes that Ingeo is uniquely suited to deliver.

NatureWorks is an advanced materials company offering a broad portfolio of biopolymers and biochemicals made from renewable resources. With performance and economics that compete with oil-based materials, naturally advanced Ingeo biomaterials are valued for their unique functional properties and used in products from coffee capsules and appliances to tea bags and 3D printing filament.

NatureWorks is jointly owned by Thailand’s largest ASEAN leading integrated petrochemical and refining company, GC, and Cargill, which provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world.