Fact or Fiction?
Whenever a new polymer is introduced to the market it is often followed by speculation as to what is true or false about the product - what can it do and what can’t it do. To help clarify some of the speculation surrounding the possibilities of Ingeo™ biopolymers, we’ve identified some of the most commonly asked questions about our resin. To learn the facts, click on a question below to find the answer.
Is Ingeo™ biopolymer edible?
The common application of Ingeo™ biopolymer is cups, cutlery and containers. NatureWorks does not recommend ingesting any plastics items such as these. As such, while Ingeo™ biopolymer is approved for food contact and well-suited for a variety of packaging applications, it is not recommended for human consumption. Ingeo™ biopolymer, as with any plastic, would be a foreign body if accidentally ingested. Most swallowed foreign bodies pass harmlessly through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Ingeo™ biopolymer has under gone extensive FDA extraction protocols to be approved as a food packaging material.
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Does Ingeo™ biopolymer cost more than PET?
The high cost of crude oil continues to reinforce the growing need for renewable-resource-based alternatives. The cost of Ingeo™ biopolymer is comparable to other conventional plastics materials. Longer term, Ingeo™ biopolymer has the potential to even be cost advantaged compared to petroleum-based resins.
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Does Ingeo™ biopolymer require GMO corn?
No, special crops or modifications are not required to produce Ingeo™ biopolymer. NatureWorks LLC purchases corn sugar (dextrose) to make PLA and the corn from which the dextrose is made is sourced from producers within a 30-mile radius of Blair, NE. The corn used to make the dextrose is a mixed stream of non-GMO and GMO corn grown in the area. During the manufacture of PLA, the multiple-stage processing and high heat used to create the polymer removes all traces of genetic material.
We are committed to offering meaningful options and delivering valuable solutions to our customers. For those who view corn variety as an important market issue, we offer three source options – certification, source offset and identity-preserved Ingeo™ biopolymer.
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I understand that Ingeo™ biopolymer does not contain GMO but does it promote the prevalence of GMO into the world?
No, since special feed corn varieties are not required to produce out biopolymer, Ingeo™ does not promote the proliferation of any specific agricultural practices.
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Because it’s made from corn, does Ingeo™ biopolymer take away from the food supply?
No, our production utilizes dextrose as the base feedstock used in a fermentation process (much like beer or wine) which converts sugar to lactic acid. We use that lactic acid to then create a polymer, which is later converted to a variety of packaging and fiber applications. This dextrose is made from No. 2 yellow dent field corn in the U.S. When our plant is at capacity, NatureWorks LLC will use less than one half of one percent of the available U.S. corn crop.
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Can Ingeo™ biopolymer only be made from No. 2 yellow dent field corn?
No, at this time we use the dextrose made from No. 2 yellow dent corn because it is the most abundant and cheapest source of a fermentable sugar in the world. In the future, the Ingeo™ biopolymer could use other sugars or non-food biomass as feedstock.
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When and where will Ingeo™ biopolymer degrade?
Ingeo™ biopolymer offers the most landfill waste diversion options globally of any current commercially available plastic material. It can be physically recycled, industrially composted, incinerated, and chemically converted back to lactic acid through hydrolis or land filled.
Ingeo™ biopolymer is compostable in industrial composting facilities where available throughout the world. Under industrial composting facility conditions the temperature and humidity in typical sites will cause PLA to lose molecular weight and become biodegradable to naturally occurring microrganisms.
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Will Ingeo™ biopolymer degrade if thrown by the side of a road?
NatureWorks LLC does not support littering of any kind. If not disposed of properly, Ingeo™ biopolymer will not reach the typical composting humidity and temperature required and thus will maintain its product integrity in the near term.
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Does Ingeo™ biopolymer degrade during usage?
No, Ingeo™ biopolymer is similar to other natural structures used for packaging, such as paper, which maintains product integrity during use.
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Will Ingeo™ biopolymer degrade on store shelves?
Ingeo™ biopolymer will not degrade on retail shelves. Ingeo™ biopolymer is similar to other natural structures used for packaging, such as paper, which maintains product integrity during use.
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Does Ingeo™ biopolymer disappear when it is put into the soil or seawater?
No, soil and seawater are relatively cold environments that severely retard the molecular weight loss, thus not allowing PLA to become biodegradable.
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Does Ingeo™ biopolymer biodegrade in landfills?
No, due to the low oxygen concentration and drop in temperature, the natural environment will retard molecular weight loss thus not allowing PLA to become biodegradable.
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Does Ingeo™ biopolymer emit methane when landfilled?
Ingeo™ biopolymer goes through a two-step degradation; the first step is hydrolysis where the material is reduced down to a low molecular weight (<10,000) before becoming biodegradable. At that point the molecule is a food source for naturally occurring microorganisms.
This reaction is temperature and humidity dependent. If there were typical sub-surface temperatures (>3-4 feet) and humidity, it would take decades before the polymer would degrade even to its half life of 40,000 molecular weight. Methane is produced by organisms during the anaerobic phase of metabolism using food waste as a source in a typical landfill environment. PLA cannot be a source of methane unless it becomes biodegradable.
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Does Ingeo™ biopolymer offer better disposal options than traditional petroleum-based plastics?
Yes, Ingeo™ biopolymer has the flexibility to be disposed of in several manners and fits most local end-of-life schemes throughout the world. These multiple disposal alternatives mean it can play a key role in landfill diversion. Ingeo™ biopolymer has been successfully composted in applications where a commercial composting infrastructure is in place. It also shows favorable properties for use where incineration is the preferred waste disposal system and offers potential for chemical recycling.
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Can I throw Ingeo™ biopolymer into my backyard compost?
Ingeo™ biopolymer should be composted in industrial compost facilities, which contain the right managed combination of temperature and moisture. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in typical backyard composting due to the lack of high temperature and inconsistent conditions.
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Ingeo™ biopolymer is designated as compostable in the United States, as opposed to biodegradable in other geographies. What is the difference?
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission publishes a “Green Guide.” According to Green Guide, Ingeo™ biopolymer falls under the category of “compostable,” but does not fall under the category of “biodegradable.”
The Green Guide defines compostableproducts as those that will break down, or become part of usable compost, in a timely matter. For composting, a “timely manner” is approximately the same time that it takes organic compounds, like leaves, grass and foodstuff to compost. Biodegradable materials are defined as those which break down and return to nature in a reasonably short amount of time after customary disposal or use. A “reasonably short time” depends on where the product is disposed. For specifics on the FTC’s Green Guide, visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.htm#260.7.
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Will Ingeo™ biopolymer contaminate the recycle stream and damage the value of the recycled materials?
NatureWorks LLC is working with representatives of the plastics recycling industry to study the handling of post-consumer PLA in mixed plastic streams. The current research shows Ingeo™ biopolymer can exist in the present North American infrastructure with the existing commercial systems for recycling PET and HDPE. In addition, NatureWorks is committed to responsibly ensuring the successful introduction of the material into existing waste management and recycling infrastructures. The company has announced a “buy back” program for post-consumer PLA bottles when certain guidelines are met. To learn more about these criteria see our North American "Buy Back" Program.
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Will Ingeo™ biopolymer in the recycle stream make other polymers biodegradable?
No, Ingeo™ biopolymer will not make other polymers “biodegradable.” Ingeo™ biopolymer is a base polymer and not an additive so it cannot introduce its benefits to other polymers simply by mixing them together.
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What is a LCA?
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely accepted measurement tool for environmental sustainability – a technique for assessing the environmental impacts associated with a product or service, covering all stages in a product’s life.
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Does Ingeo™ biopolymer use more energy and hence emit more greenhouse gases than the manufacturing of other traditional petroleum-based plastics?
Peer-reviewed and published life-cycle analysis (LCA) data show that polyactic acid (PLA) requires fewer fossil resources and generates fewer greenhouse gases than traditional plastics. Ingeo™ biopolymer uses 62-68 percent fewer fossil fuel resources than traditional plastics in its manufacturing and is the world’s first family of commercially available polymers, with significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, derived from 100 percent annually renewable resources with cost and performance that compete with petroleum-based packaging materials and fibers.
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Does the energy used to grow and harvest the field corn used to produce Ingeo™ biopolymer offset the LCA benefits?
The total energy required to grow and harvest the corn actually adds benefits to our LCA due to the plants’ absorption of CO 2 and sunlight during photosynthesis. In addition, we are continuing to evaluate alternative energy sources that will make the life cycle even better in the future.
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Will Ingeo™ biopolymer availability be impacted by the increased production of ethanol?
No, located in the heart of the “ Corn Belt,” Ingeo™ biopolymer is sourced from an abundant regional supply. This supply is more than enough to meet the needs of Ingeo™ biopolymer and existing feed and ethanol production in the area.
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I heard Ingeo™ biopolymer will melt in extreme heat, is this true?
Like most clear or transparent polymer, exposure to high temperatures and humidity can adversely affect the performance and appearance of plastic materials depending on the use. Ingeo™ biopolymer is currently being used as coated paper liner for use in foodservice disposables and a film application tolerant to higher heat. NatureWorks LLC is also helping customers preserve the performance of the polymer throughout the shipping, storage and handling process. It is recommended that Ingeo™ biopolymer be stored at temperatures less than 105ºF (40ºC). For more information on recommended care and handling of Ingeo™ biopolymer, please visit: Smart Care of Ingeo™ biopolymer.
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Are Ingeo™ innovations only suitable for cold applications?
Although Ingeo™ biopolymer packaging is ideal for cold-fill or ambient temperature applications, such as fresh-cut produce, whole fruit, salads, fresh juice, still water and dairy products, it can also be used as an extrusion-coating on paper for applications such as coffee cups.
Ingeo™ biopolymer is also well suited for the film market including labels, heat-seal overlays, window films, flow wrap, twist wrap and formulations for carrier bags. Ingeo™ biopolymer offers the performance of heat sealability, where initiation temperatures are as low as 180 oF (80 oC) and heat seal strengths of greater than 2 lb./inch to allow for faster sealing and increased output.
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How brittle is Ingeo™ biopolymer compared to other plastics?
Ingeo™ biopolymer is a revolutionary polymer exhibiting a balance of material properties that are comparable to or, in many cases, superior to those of traditional thermoplastics and other conventional materials. Its high stiffness enables more efficient down gauging versus existing PET materials without loss of part strength. Ingeo™ biopolymer has a unique blend of physical properties that make it well suited for a range of packaging applications, including rigid packaging, bottles, films, labels and serviceware.
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Why are Ingeo™ biopolymer parts sometimes yellow in color?
The natural tint of Ingeo™ biopolymer is a very, very pale natural yellow. Many processors prefer completely transparent PLA parts, and add small quantities of a blue tint to mask the natural yellow shade of PLA.
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Can Ingeo™ biopolymer be processed (extruded, blown, injection molded, etc.) on existing conventional equipment?
Yes, Ingeo™ biopolymer can be processed in many existing operations with minimal changes. Currently, Ingeo™ biopolymer is seeing the greatest use in thermoformed, extrusion and injection stretch blowmolding applications.
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