First Launch by Local Companies of Environmentally Friendly Paper & Pulp Products with NatureWorks PLA

TAIPEI, June 9, 2006  --  A consortium of companies lead by Wei Mon Industry Co. Ltd. (Wei Mon) today announced the first launch of a bio based renewable, innovative technology to replace petroleum based extrusion coating and lamination for paper and pulp products. This technology uses NatureWorks® PLA which allows paper and pulp to biodegrade quickly through the natural composting process. NatureWorks PLA is a polymer derived from 100 percent annually renewable resources based on corn. Wei Mon, Kuan Chun Paper Industry Co, Ltd (Kuan Chun), Just Only, Taiwan HPP (HPP), and Towa Kako Co. Ltd (Towa Kako) have jointly developed the coating and lamination technology, the first for the industry to be launched in Taiwan.

NatureWorks LLC, the maker of NatureWorks PLA uses a unique technology to make a proprietary polylactide polymer, which is marketed globally under both NatureWorks PLA and Ingeo fibers ingredient brand names. “Our world-scale production capability allows us to supply an innovative and environmentally friendly polymer on a commercial basis. We look forward to working with our Taiwanese partners as they expand the use of NatureWorks PLA across a wide range of pulp and paper product applications in Taiwan,” said Peter Clydesdale, Managing Director, Asia Pacific of NatureWorks LLC.

Consumers in Taiwan now can choose paper products such as lunch boxes, cups, noodle cups, burger boxes and lunch trays which can end up biodegrading in composting sites instead of filling landfills, as is the case with traditional petroleum coated paper products. Traditionally, paper products have a surface coating and lamination made from petroleum based plastic. The companies involved in this launch have developed a technology to enhance the environmentally-friendly properties of their paper products through the use of NatureWorks PLA.

“If we want to protect our environment, our efforts in promoting paper disposable products were not sufficient. As a leading company providing raw materials and semi-finished/finished paper disposable products in Taiwan, our mission is to conserve our living resources and develop environmentally friendly products. We felt that we had to address some of the challenges of waste caused by paper disposable products”, said Steve Chang, President, Kuan Chun Paper Co. Ltd

“NatureWorks PLA is the revolutionary green material for the 21st century. It’s compostable, recyclable, and reusable which meets the need for eco- efficiency. What we take from nature will return to nature after use. Being citizens in a global village, we believe that if everyone is aware of their role, we will have a positive effect on improving our environment.”, said Mr. Xu, Nine-Huan President, Taiwan HPP.

“Towa Kako has more than 40 years of expertise in manufacturing and processing of plastics material. Leveraging this knowledge and experience has allowed us to develop processing technologies and applications of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) materials. The limitless and inexhaustible possibility of PLA materials draws our continued interest in its developments.”, added Mr. Takeyuki Yamamatsu, Senior Vice President, Towa Kako Co., Ltd.

About NatureWorks LLC
NatureWorks LLC is a stand-alone company wholly owned by Cargill. Dedicated to meeting the world’s needs today without compromising the earth’s ability to meet the needs of tomorrow, NatureWorks LLC is the first company to offer a family of commercially available greenhouse-gas-neutral polymers derived from 100 percent annually renewable resources with cost and performance that compete with petroleum-based packaging materials and fibers. The company applies its unique technology to the processing of natural plant sugars to create a proprietary polylactide polymer, which is marketed under the NatureWorks® PLA and Ingeo® fibers brand names. NatureWorks PLA, the nature-based bio-polymer, is used for many disposable packaging applications including service ware, plates and cutlery, film wrap for food and flowers, produce, gastronomy and bakery packaging and bottles for water, milk, juice and edible oils. For more information about NatureWorks and its brands, please visit www.natureworksllc.com.

About Wei Mon Industry Co.,Ltd.
Founded in 1987, Wei Mon Industry Co., Ltd (WMI) is a subsidiary of Wei Mon Group based in Taipei, Taiwan. WMI is a manufacturer and producer of versatile pipes, such as Reinforced Concrete Pipes (RCP), Pre-stressed Concrete Cylinder Pipes (PCCP) and Pre-stressed Concrete Non-Cylinder Pipes (PSCP). Besides pipes production, WMI also constructs water supply piping systems, sanitary sewerage systems and land re-planning projects.

About Kuan Chun Paper Industry Co.
Kuan Chun Paper Industry Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of disposable and biodegradable paper products in Taiwan. The company was established in 1991 and has received ISO 9002 certification. In 2000, Kuan Chun established subsidiaries in China and Korea, in addition to a branch office in the US (2001)

About Just Only Environment Protection Co., LTD Just Only Environment Protection was established in January 2001. Just Only undertakes its own product investigation, design, development, marketing, sales and customer service. The Company aims to be the Number 1 brand in the industry.

About Towa Kako Co., Ltd
Towa Kako Co.Ltd was established in 1952 the company’s line of business include the manufacture and sale of waterproof and reinforced products, paper products and various plastic products including PLA.

About Taiwan HPP Enterprise Company Limited
Founded in 1997, Taiwan HPP focuses on environmental service ware. The company has transitioned from focusing on rice bran disposable products to paper and pulp products. The company’s recent developments focuses s on PLA and paper pulp products.Taiwan HPP is one of the major PLA coated paper products facilitators.

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NatureWorks, Ingeo and the EcoPLA logo are trademarks or registered trademarks in the USA and other countries.