Cargill’s NatureWorks take sugar-derived

plastics to Brazil
By staff reporter, 07-Jul-2009

Related topics: Packaging & Design

Cargill is to introduce its Ingeo bioplastics to Brazil, offering the food, cosmetics and
other industries a new packaging material derived from sugar instead of petroleum.

Since the formation of NatureWorks as a 50-50 joint venture between Cargill and Teijin, the
plastics have been used by more than 100 brands in the US, Europe and Asia . On 1 July
Cargill announced its acquisition of 100 per cent of the NatureWorks business, with the latter
becoming am independent company within the wider Cargill fold.

Now the new parent company to become the exclusive distributor of the plastics in Brazil,
selling the material through its starches and sweeteners business unit. Marcelo de Andrade,
director of the unit, said there Argentina and Chile could be amongst other potential Latin
American customers.

The bioplastics, made in Nebraska, USA, are to be imported through the port of Santos and
will be stored at Cargill’s centre in San Paolo.

“The product’s sales have started locally,” Andrade said, and efforts are underway to “meet
demand from customers looking for sustainable product or packaging solutions that are also
extremely environmentally friendly”.

Low impact

Andrade pointed out the benefits of the material: it is claimed to have the lowest carbon
footprint of all commercially available plastics, with its production process generating 60 per
cent less green house gases and requiring 50 per cent less fossil fuel than PET.

After the end of its useful life, it can be disposed of using existing systems, but there are also
options for compositing or feedstock delivery. In industrial composting conditions, it takes
just three or four months to biodegrade.

NatureWorks tailors product grades to meet specific applications for the Ingeo plastics. In
addition to being used for packaging, there are also grades available for tablewear, pillows,
toothbrushes and disposable diapers.