NatureWorks Assesses Second Ingeo Manufacturing Location  

NatureWorks is assessing locations for a second manufacturing plant because of the rising global demand for alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. With strong regional sales for its Ingeo bioresin in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas, NatureWorks will evaluate the location for a new resin production facility based on projected growth in these regions and the availability of plant-based feedstock required for Ingeo processing. Read more.

In the News

The Fox TV network's segment—New Leaders Before They Were Leaders—featured Marc Verbruggen, NatureWorks president and CEO, in March. Host Jill Woerner talked with Marc about his international business experience, his background growing up in Belgium, mentors he had along the way, and the fact that public school education prepared him to speak four languages by age 18. Watch now.

Food Production Daily.com covered the introduction of Ingeo natural plastic bottles and NatureWorks research into Ingeo bottle recycling. The article is balanced, interesting, and written from a European point of view. Read more.

In a February article, European Plastics News described the current state of the bioplastics industry, including material costs, market conditions, and optimum end of life scenarios. The publication extensively quotes NatureWorks' European environmental affairs manager Erwin Vink. Read more.

The In The News page on the NatureWorks website provides links to recent news stories about NatureWorks Ingeo bioresin.

Shows and Conferences

NatureWorks believes that involvement in conferences and shows is vital for telling the company's story and for learning from others. Please make it a point to talk with a NatureWorks representative at these events. Here is a recap of events just past and coming up:

Sustainable Packaging Coalition Spring Meeting, March 23-25, Chicago, Illinois

Needle Punch 2009, March 24-26, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Plast/Ipack Ima, March 24-28, Milan, Italy

ICMA, March 31-April 3, San Juan, Puerto Rico

EmPack—EcoPack, April 1-2, Den Bosch, Holland. NatureWorks' European environmental affairs manager Erwin Vink will be giving a presentation on the new Ingeo eco-profile.

United Fresh 2009, April 21-23, Las Vegas, Nevada

National Restaurant Association, May 16-19, Chicago IL

3rd Bioplastics Markets, May 21-22, Guangzhou, China. NatureWorks' Asia Pacific sales manager Peter Clydesdale and European environmental affairs manager Erwin Vink will be presenting on the bioplastics market outlook and responsible marketing.

N-Expo, May 26-29, Tokyo, Japan. Erwin Vink will be giving a presentation on the new Ingeo eco-profile.

For the most up to date information on the shows and conferences NatureWorks is involved in, visit the exhibit calendar on the NatureWorks website.

Partner Awards

Ingeo bottles hold the best tasting water in the world

Naturally Iowa, a NatureWorks' customer and a leading manufacturer and distributor of bottled spring water and dairy products, announced that the spring water packaged in its trademarked Green Bottle recently won a Gold Medal as "Best Bottled Water in the World." The award was presented at the annual International Water Tasting competition in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The source for Naturally Iowa Green Bottle water is a clear, pure spring near Alton, Virginia, 600 feet below certified organic fields. Naturally Iowa water and dairy bottles are made from Ingeo natural plastic. Read more about Naturally Iowa sustainable packaging.

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NatureWorks Opens State-of-the-Art Applications Lab

NatureWorks invested $1 million and 18 months of staff time to transform its former pilot plant in Savage, Minnesota, into an Ingeo bioresin applications lab capable of commercial grade compounding, sheet extrusion, thermoforming, injection molding, and fiber spinning.

"Some of the tasks of the new NatureWorks' application lab include developing and testing compounds on commercial machines, moving Ingeo natural plastic into new product areas, educating converters about Ingeo processing characteristics, and working side by side with brand owners and retailers to test their product concepts," said Marc Verbruggen, president and CEO. "The lab is designed to enable NatureWorks, converters, and brand owners to bring quality products made from renewable resources to market quickly and effectively."

Recent product launches and adoptions

Plastic cards from plants, not oil
The U.K.-based The Plastic Card Shop® has added the Ecocard™ collection made with Ingeo bioresin to its lines of membership cards, gift cards, and discount cards. The company is deeply committed to environmentally sound practices and has invested heavily in product research and development. The Plastic Card Shop is the official Ingeo plastic card partner in the U.K. Read more.

Cordless telephone now comes in "green"
Telecom Italia and MID product design studio recently announced they are launching a new cordless telephone made with Ingeo. The new phone, "eco", combines innovative design with the low carbon benefits of Ingeo bioplastic.

Sun protection systems go global
Ingeo sun protection fabricHunter Douglas window coverings and architectural products are found in millions of homes and commercial buildings around the globe. Hunter Douglas is the first manufacturer on a global level to launch Ingeo sun protection systems using an exclusive fabric from WTG in Germany.

Keeping fruits and vegetables fresher
Carrefour Belgium is part of the France-based Carrefour group, which is the second leading retailer in the world with more than 15,000 hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount stores, and convenience stores throughout Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Carrefour Belgium operates 650 of those stores and has 19,000 employees.

Carrefour Belgium recently introduced an Ingeo clear film over wrap for sugarcane trays used for fresh fruits and vegetables. The Ingeo film improves shelf life, is less sensitive to moisture, and displays the fresh produce more attractively than the film it replaced.

Sponges and napkins wrapped in Ingeo film
France-based Polyfilms is offering an Ingeo film wrap that appeals to environmentally conscious manufacturers. This film is now being used by 3M for its line of sponges made from renewable resources and by BO Packaging for a line of napkins. Read about Polyfilms.

Putting the lid on hot cups
Two companies are introducing hot cup lids made from Ingeo natural plastic—StalkMarket, and EcoProducts.

StalkMarket has earned the Biodegradable Products Institute's (BPI) compostable certification for its new hot cup lid. The company says, "From cup to lid, you can now order a complete hot beverage container and lid that meets the rigorous composting requirements of BPI and scientifically based standards from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)."

The EcoProducts hot cup lid has been submitted to BPI for compostable certification. The lids are paired with EcoProducts Ingeo lined compostable paper hot cups sizes 10, 12, 16, 20, and 24 ounces. The new lid is heat stable up to 220 degrees and is designed to break down and return to the earth within 90-120 days in a commercial composting facility.

Hong Kong Company introduces Ingeo cold cups & lids
With over 80 stores in China, Singapore and Hong Kong, Pacific Coffee Company is committed to minimizing their environmental impact. Introducing Ingeo cold drink cups and lids in their stores reflects their desire to help create a healthier planet while serving their award winning coffee.