2007 through 2008 — significant years for bottles made from plants

From early 2007 through 2008, NatureWorks and the packaging and recycling industry made significant strides toward the adoption of bottles made from renewable resources rather than imported oil. These strides included:

• The launching of Ingeo-based bottles in the United States, Europe, and New Zealand. Read more.
• Market and lifecycle analyses demonstrated that recovery and reuse of bioplastic bottles would be not only doable, once sufficient numbers of bottles enter the waste stream, but also would be better overall for the environment than petroleum-based bottles. Read more.
• NatureWorks scientists performed hydrolysis tests on Naturally Iowa Milk bottles made from Ingeo biopolymer. The scientists found that impurities such as caps and label material can be filtered down to levels that allow recycling back to bottle-grade resin.
• The WRAP environmental organization, www.wrap.org.uk, published a report titled, Domestic Mixed Plastics Packaging Waste Options. In the report WRAP concluded that, "NIR (near-infrared) sorting systems can effectively remove PLA bioplastic and carton board from a mixed packaging stream."
• NatureWorks is a stakeholder in a Future 500, www.future500.org, pilot project to evaluate mechanical processing in the separation of bioresin and other plastics from both PET and high density polyethylene (HDPE). The pilot study is being funded in part by the California Department of Conservation which, in November, awarded $1,047,000 toward the 18-month project. Businesses are contributing an additional $800,000.

"We believe that 2007 and 2008 were years studded with important milestones in the development of a market for bioresin bottles," said Marc Verbruggen, NatureWorks president and CEO. "As the number of bottles increases, suppliers, brand owners, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the recycling industry must continue to work both transparently and with well articulated plans for post-consumer recycling and reuse of bottles made from plants." Read more about the important milestones in 2007 and 2008.

Brian Glasbrenner, Americas Business Manager for NatureWorks, will be giving a presentation on recycling using a hydrolysis process at the upcoming Global Plastics Environmental Conference in Florida. See the Shows section of this newsletter for more information.

Recent product launches and adoptions

Soft as a baby's bottom
Elements Naturals is a new line of baby wipes made from Ingeo natural fiber. Elements Naturals are free of chemical additives, synthetic materials, and chemical surface treatments. With Ingeo fiber supplied by FIT and the spunlace fabric being manufactured by Bensland derived from plants, not oil, the wipes are complete with a solution derived from plants, fragrance free, and includes certified organic aloe Vera. One percent of Elements Naturals' proceeds will be donated to organizations that encourage environmentally conscious business practices. Elements Naturals were developed by Linda Naerheim, who, as a new mom several years ago, became concerned about the amount and type of chemicals in baby products. The wipes are available at Whole Foods stores and online at diapers.com.

New Ingeo Diaper to Launch in NA
Broody Chick Natural Products Inc., a new Canadian company based in Victoria BC, has just launched a range of 100% natural baby skin care products including 100% fully compostable disposable diapers and wipes using Ingeo fibers.

Although the release date for the products is Spring of 2009, the range has already attracted unprecedented interest and is set to hit the market place, country wide,in the next few months. For more information, visit www.broodychick.com.

European agricultural cooperatives choose Ingeo natural plastic
Valfrutta, a leading Italian agricultural cooperative and food company, uses Ingeo for its organic fruits packaging. Valfrutta has created a new consortium of companies under the Valfrutta Fresco band name and anticipates utilizing more than 50,000 tons of Ingeo packaging. Organizations involved in the new consortium include Apo Conerpo, Agrintesa, Modena Fruit Group, Conserve Italia, Italfrutta and ECLAC, which has 20,000 members in its cooperative. Valfrutta Fresco will offer 1 million tons of fresh fruit and vegetables from its 55 associated cooperatives. http://www.valfrutta.com

Ingeo cups join fresh produce containers in Asia
Aeon, a retail corporate group in Japan, seeks to achieve a better consumer lifestyle for their customers by making efforts to minimize CO2 emissions and improve environmental efficiency to create a better society. Aeon is continuously taking concrete actions in that direction. Since January 2008, in addition to the Ingeo packaging they've adopted for fresh fruits and vegetables, Aeon has been using the Ingeo cups, made by Asahi Kasei Pax, at Aeon stores in Kyushu, Japan. This project is supported by a biomass promotion program by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.

Sleeve label dresses up water-filter cartridge
Partnering with Water, Inc., Body Glove Intl. USA has launched what it describes as the world's first environmentally friendly home water-filtration system. To provide the most eye-catching shelf appeal for its filters, Body Glove selected spectacular shrink-sleeve labels from Seal-It, a division of Printpack, Inc. (www.printpack.com). In keeping with Body Glove's green image, the labels are made from an EarthFirst® brand film, www.earthfirstpla.com, consisting of Ingeo bioresin. Read more.

Striding the links in style
Descente, a leading Japanese sportswear company, is introducing a new collection of Ingeo fabric golf shirts under the Le coq sportif label. This eco golf wear is made with Ingeo fiber and cotton and is crafted for quick drying and moisture management.

Running more comfortably with Ingeo
The German sportswear firm Rono has created Rono Blueline a new line of women's running clothes from Ingeo natural fabric. Rono chose Ingeo due to its moisture management performance which is key for running and also because it is a material that comes from nature. The new sports attire emphasizes comfort and superior moisture management, and is designed for women who are interested in both sports and an earth-friendly lifestyle. This line will be available in over 40 leading retailers throughout Germany later this year.

Ingeo-based landscape fabric rolls out at Home Depot
For Home Depot customers, preventing weeds will be more earth friendly this year thanks to the Easy Gardner landscape fabric that consists of 50 percent Ingeo natural plastic. Landscape fabric is an effective alternative to chemical herbicides, and Easy Gardner takes this advantage one step further by significantly reducing the eco-profile of the fabric with Ingeo bioplastic.

Korean consumers say yes to Ingeo natural fiber diapers
Following a three-and-a-half-year development effort, Yuhan-Kimberly introduced HUGGIES® Naturemade in Korea. These diapers have inside liners made from a soft, non-woven Ingeo fabric. The diapers also feature a nature-friendly skin lotion, improved absorbency, and leak protection. In independent tests, eight of ten consumers preferred HUGGIES Naturemade for their babies over other top level diapers. Yuhan-Kimberly has made 'Keep Korea Green' campaign, social contribution program, for the past 26 years.

Gattinoni Goes Green
On February 15th, designer Gattinoni, prèt a porter, showed their newest collection which featured two new light and flowing evening kaftan style dresses featuring an artistic rendering of President Barack Obama's likeness. One of the dresses was 100% Ingeo fabrics from Serates with yarn from Unitika (processed by the Italian Co. Leitsu). The second was 50% Ingeo and 50% silk. News of the garments received wide pick-up by Italian newspapers and international fashion magazines alike.

Partner awards

W.I.P. (Wellness Innovation Project) is a young Italian company active in the market of disposables for hygiene and personal care. W.I.P. has received the Italian National Award Innovazione Amica dell'Ambiente 2008 for the development of the first Ingeo-based baby diaper. These diapers are sold under the brand names Naturaé and Love'N. The company invested three years researching and developing this innovative child-care product.

In the News

Marc Verbruggen, president and CEO of NatureWorks, and Salvador Ortega, Business Director Latin America, were recently interviewed by BNamericas, the leading source of business news in Latin America. The interview followed the announcement of a new strategic partnership between NatureWorks and Quimicoplasticos and QP Inc. to distribute Ingeo resins in Colombia.

The resulting article was noteworthy for the clear and compelling information on the state of the bioresin industry, the impact that fluctuating oil prices have on bioresin sales, the long-term potential for global growth, and market conditions in Latin America. This question and answer format piece is a must read for those seeking a fast, yet comprehensive overview of the dynamics of the bioresin market. Read more.

Visit the In the News page on the NatureWorks website to stay in touch with what journalists say about the bioresin industry and NatureWorks. For example, there is an informative USA TODAY article on plastic made from plants and also a short news video on using plants to create more sustainable packaging. Review In the News often.

University of Washington begins using first compostable soda cup

The University of Washington, Seattle, recently became the first to provide compostable cups for soda-fountain use. These paper cups feature an Ingeo natural plastic moisture barrier that was developed by Coca-Cola, its cup supplier International Paper, and DaniMer Scientific. The university anticipates diverting 150,000 soda cups a year from local landfills to a composting facility where the material will be reused for landscaping and gardens.

The university already uses a wide range of Ingeo natural plastic containers and bioresin cold cups in its many food service locations. These Ingeo items, along with paper cups, plates, and bags, are collected at numerous compostable item bins around campus.

DaniMer Scientific made important contributions to the soda-cup development team. The company created the world's first commercially successful Ingeo natural plastic extrusion resin for coating paper, paperboard, and fabric. The coating is FDA approved for food contact. Read more and view the video.

NatureWorks believes that involvement in conferences and shows is vital for telling our story and also for learning from others. Please make it a point to look us up at these events. Here is a recap of events just past and coming up: 

PSI 2009, January 7-9, Düsseldorf, Germany. Italian firm Stilolinea introduced its Ingeo pen at this annual event focused on promotional products. The event was attended by 1,900 visitors representing 70 countries. A model wearing an Ingeo fiber wedding dress welcomed visitors to the Stilolinea booth. 

Domotex, January 17-20, Hannover, Germany. At this large European exposition for the floor covering industry, Sommer Needlepunch company showcased its latest Ingeo product —Ecopunch®. This new line of carpets, which will be mainly used for trade show exhibits, is 75 percent bio-based. When compared to similar carpets made from petroleum, Ecopunch offers an alternative that is better for the environment and lowers overall energy consumption. The new event carpeting is manufactured in France and distributed globally.

Sirha, January 24-29, Lyon, France. Sirha is a trade exhibition for the international hotel catering and food service industries. International Plastic Industry (IPI) of France introduced Ingeo cutlery into its line of food service and retail tableware. Italian firm ILIP showcased its complete line of dishes, plates, glasses, and containers made from Ingeo natural plastic.

Green Packaging, January 29, 2009, Milan, Italy. Stefano Cavallo, Ingeo European Marketing Director NatureWorks BV, gave a presentation entitled "A new driver in consumer choice." Sant'Anna, the bottled water company that recently launched an Ingeo bottle in Europe, presented a case study called, "Green Packaging: a new way to communicate the values."

The Packaging Conference 2009, Feb 2-4, Las Vegas, Nevada. Brian Glasbrenner, Americas Business Manager, NatureWorks, spoke on sustainability through eco-profile and life cycle assessment of Ingeo biopolymer.

Fruit Logistica, February 4-6, Berlin. At this leading trade exposition for the international fresh produce industry, Ingeo natural plastic packaging was featured by exhibitors from Italy, France, and the Netherlands. These companies included Primeale, ILPA S.r.l. Divisione ILIP, Infia, Cartonpack, Valfrutta, Van der Windt Verpakking B.V. and NNZ. Read more.

Primeale	Valfrutta
Cartonpack
ILPA S.r.l. Divisione ILIP	NNZ
Van der Windt Verpakking B.V.

R+T, February 10-14, Stuttgart, Germany. WTG showcased its Ingeo fabric contemporary shades for the home at this international trade fair for the building construction, equipment, and interior design industries.

Easyfairs ECOPAK 09, February 11-12, Birmingham, England. The Easyfairs ECOPAK conference focuses on environmentally responsible packaging. Eamonn Tighe, Sales Director NatureWorks, and Steve Davies, NatureWorks Director of Communications and Public Affairs, introduced the new Ingeo eco-profile as well as a comparison of r-PET & Ingeo packaging thru life cycle assessment, addressing questions from the packaging audience on feedstock options, and end-of-life treatment for packaging.

The 2009 Plastics Recycling Conference, February 24-25, Orlando, Florida. NatureWorks was among 50 exhibitors at this event that the organizer, Resource Recycling, Inc. describes as being the premier annual technical conference and trade show on plastics recycling in North America. Read more.

Global Plastics Environmental Conference 2009, February 26-27, Orlando, Florida, is being held back-to-back with the Plastics Recycling Conference. Brian Glasbrenner, Americas Business Manager, NatureWorks, will give a presentation on recycling Ingeo through hydrolysis. This conference focuses of the various aspects of recycling and sustainability of biodegradable, non-petroleum based polymers. The mission of Plastics Environmental is to foster the advancement of polymers derived from renewable sources. NatureWorks will be an exhibitor. Read more.

NatureWorks lists all of its show-related participation in their Exhibit Calendar.