Metabolix

Metabolix is a bioplastics technology development and commercialization company. It is a spinoff of the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Performance
Metabolix manufactures PHB for the use in marine degradable environments. PHA is limited in it's usage as the cost and performance are limited. PHB has a low melt temperature which restricts it's usage when competing against other resins such as PLA. PHB thermostability is at 170C.

Legal Issues
Following the collapse of the Telles joint venture, shareholders of Metabolix filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that executives knowingly misled them about the viability of the production process of Mirel. The case, Coyne et al v. Metabolix, Inc., was filed on February 17, 2012 in Boston's federal court, citing Section 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. It names executives Eno and Hill in addition to Metabolix.

Pricing
PHB pricing is two times more expensive than PLA, ranging between $5-8 US Dollars a KG