Dutch firm to start making PLA if customers buy in
04/11/2014
The Dutch company said its aim was to bring new biodegradable solutions to the plastics industry and increase global PLA production capacity by around 75,000 tonnes per year.
Corbion chief executive, Tjerk de Ruiter, said on making the announcement: “As part of a strategic review we have confirmed there is an attractive demand outlook for PLA, albeit at a lower growth pace than previously assumed. Given our strong position in lactic acid, our unique high heat technology and the market need for a second PLA producer (in addition to Ingeo producer NatureWorks), we plan to forward integrate in the bioplastics value chain, from being a lactide provider to a PLA producer.”
Mr de Ruiter said Corbion’s plan is to produce PLA at a new plant in Thailand, investing an estimated €60 million, but he said the company will only start building the new plant when it has commitment from customers to buy at least one-third of the planned 75,000-tonne capacity.
The company’s calculations are that worldwide PLA capacity is “almost sold out” and, owing to increasing interest in bioplastics sourced from renewable resources, with the PLA market expected to grow to 600,000 tonnes per year by 2025, additional suppliers are needed, Corbion has concluded.
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