March 9-12, 2005 - Ingeo™ Fiber and Paris Plus

PARIS, FRANCE - March 9-12, 2005 - NatureWorks popular Ingeo™ fiber returns to these important international textile fairs with a number of new products on display at their partners stands. Here's a look at what's new for this season…

PREMIERE VISION

• Avelana (Stand 6G8/6H5) will present woven fabrics blended with Ingeo fiber and linen. They use staple and continuous yarns made of Ingeo fiber
• Figli di Michelangelo Calamai (Stand 4E5) will present several different shirts in 100% Ingeo fiber and in blends with other natural fibers
• Mario Boselli Jersey (Stand 5L14/5M13) will present jerseys made of 100% Ingeo fiber
• Pontetorto (Stand 6M40/6N39) will present a series of pile fabrics made with 100% Ingeo fiber
• Radici Tessuti (Stand 4C8/4D7) will present a series of fabrics for the sportswear sector blended with Ingeo fiber and cotton and in 100% Ingeo fiber
• Tessitura Romano' (Stand 5K3) will present a series of fabrics for sportswear made with 100% Ingeo fiber
• Uco Sportswear (Stand 4E4/4F3) will present denim in an Ingeo fiber cotton blend.

EXPOFIL

• Antex (Stand 5B65-5B67) will present lustrous and semi-matt filament yarn made from 100% Ingeo fiber
• Maclodio (Stand 5F76) will present a new yarn made from 100% Ingeo fiber
• Radici Group (Stand 5C63-5D62) will present yarns made from Ingeo fiber both in dyed and undyed form

TEXWORLD

• Chia Her (HallCStandF66) will present a range of piece dyes fabrics in Ingeo fiber blended with cotton and wool
• Fountain Set (HallC StandD17) will present fabrics in 100% Ingeo fiber and in blends with cotton, linen, Tencel and modal; a full range of structures like jersey, crepe jersey, ribs, piquet, interlock in piece dye, yarn dye and prints
• Thermore (HallB StandC07), a world leader in the production of insulating fill for clothing, will present its new line made with Ingeo fiber, now a new addition to their Natural line

Most importantly, NatureWorks is debuting in 2005/2006 with an exciting agenda that combines important new developments with a strong dose of business as usual.

The “business as usual” is the remarkable Ingeo fiber itself, an invention that remains as important today as it did at its inception a little over two years ago: an innovative, commercially viable product that offers modern consumers high performance blended with environmentally sound construction. Ingeo fiber is, in fact, the first manmade fiber created from 100% annually renewable resources. It is a product that combines the best of both worlds: the performance of premium synthetic fiber and the advantages of a natural material. And because it is derived entirely from renewable sources, Ingeo fiber contributes to reducing our dependence on limited fossil fuel resources such as oil.

But behind this established product, a great deal has changed, and for the better. Cargill has purchased Dow's participation in the production of this new polymer. This means that the original creators of Ingeo fiber have recovered full possession of a breakthrough they originated over a decade ago. Cargill remains solidly behind Ingeo fiber, and despite the new name Ð NatureWorks LLC Ð nothing fundamental about the fiber business has changed.

This is good news for the market at large. It means that none of what has made Ingeo fiber such a growing success has changed. Popular initiatives like Ingeo fiber branding program remain as viable as ever. Under the branding program, the brand not only reserves its approval to blends that only use Ingeo fiber with other natural fibers, but also requires its brand partners to adhere to the International Labor Organization's conventions prohibiting the use of child labor, and to avoid the use or inclusion of substances damaging to the environment in its products. This brand policy Ð unique in its sector Ð is concrete proof of NatureWorks commitment to putting action behind its words.

NatureWorks practices what it preaches. Here's a look at some of the other important initiatives in which Ingeo fiber is a protagonist, each of which is a testament to this company's ongoing commitment to supporting the development of sustainable business in every aspect of the industry:

• ITS#4: Ingeo™ fiber is participating as a partner in this important international competition for the second year in a row, recognizing emerging young talent in the world of clothing design through its Ingeo Sustainability Award. International Talent Support Ð ITS for short Ð is a fashion design competition for students and newly graduated designers selected from top schools all over the globe, designed to provide young, emerging talent with an opportunity for global recognition by making it possible for winners to display their garments at key retail locations.
• Verdopolis™: Ingeo™ fiber participated as a partner at this landmark international event, working together with Earth Pledge to promote new sustainable business practices in fashion and the textiles industry at large. Verdopolis is the first celebration of sustainable innovations in architecture, energy, technology, transportation, healthcare, design, food and fashion, designed to be the world's key forum for exploring the latest developments in sustainability. A place where business leaders, government officials and innovative thinkers come together to guide the transition to a sustainable urban lifestyle.
• The Earth Month Project: Ingeo fiber created this new initiative as a unique way to celebrate Earth Day, raising awareness about the key role that sustainability can play in the textile industry and offering a measurable competitive advantage, at the same time creating a dynamic opportunity for another way to sell at retail level. This is an opportunity for the Ingeo concept to be heard and seen as a visionary reality in the context of our own market partner pioneers.

Last though far from least, NatureWorks would like to give a hearty “shout-out” to all the companies, brands and partners Ð some already listed here above Ð who share our vision and are helping make it a reality through their support. Textile and brand companies like those listed believe in Ingeo fiber, actively participate in the creation of new products and have recognized the innate importance of this, innovative reality. They make a point of requesting it for their products, contributing directly to the success of this innovative idea. For a list of these partners, visit www.ingeofibers.com.

Note to editors:
Founded in 1997, NatureWorks LLC is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA. It is the first company to offer a family of commercially available polymers derived from 100% annually renewable resources with the cost and performance to compete with petroleum-based packaging materials and fibers. The company has achieved this breakthrough by applying 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™ fiber brand names. For more information about NatureWorks and its brands, please visit www.natureworkspla.com.

Ingeo and NatureWorks are trademarks of NatureWorks LLC