Natureworks LLC

NatureWorks LLC is a manufacturer of bioplastics — polymers derived entirely from corn — replacing petroleum-based plastic in packaging materials, consumer goods and fiber products. The commercial quality polymer is made from the carbon found in simple plant sugars to create a proprietary polylactic acid polymer (PLA).

Natureworks was originally a joint venture between Cargill and Dow, Dow decided to move onto the next project in 2005. PLA was originally manufactured in the mid to late 70's.

Performance of PLA
PLA is restricted on performance due to the heat variables at a maximum temperature of 200C, this restricts the total amount of products which can be converted to PLA. PLA does not biodecompose, it bioassimilates from hydrolisis reactions when placed into compost facilities at or above 140F, this causes great performance and compostable issues with compost facilities as most facilities operate at lower temperatures. PLA does not compost at every facility this has been an issue with performance of PLA due to the length of time it takes to bioassimilate in compost.

Legal Issues of PLA
In 2012 the Vermont Attorney General sued compostable manufacturers of cups due to the product not being sold within areas that can compost PLA based plastics. The settlement between the company and the attorney generals office was or around 80,000 USD to raise awareness of the needs of compostable facilities to take compostable based plastics within Vermont. Currently there are very few compost facilities that accept PLA and the ones that do can't sell their compost to USDA recognized farmers because the USDA does not accept PLA as an organic product not does it accept the compost as organic.

GE or genetic engineered corn is used when manufacturing PLA, 85% of the feedstock within the United States is GE. Due to PLA being a mono-crop the amount of pesticides and fertilizers used is very large.

Pricing
PLA is priced as competitive to oil based products due to tax subsidies of corn feedstock. PLA currently uses the Kernels of the corn and the rest of the corn stock is agricultural waste.