Manufacture of Ingeo biopolymer is greener, claims report
The manufacture of NatureWorks’ Ingeo polymer emits fewer greenhouse gasses (GHS) than the comparable manufacture of petrochemical-based plastic, according to a peer-reviewed article in the Industrial Biotechnology journal.
The article documents the energy and GHG inputs and outputs of the Ingeo production system, the revised eco-profile and the calculation of a environmental indicators as well as land and water use.
Ingeo is made from renewable feedstocks such as corn. NatureWorks uses a process of fermentation, separation and polymerisation to transform the carbon and other elements in the natural sugars into Ingeo.
The US-based company has developed an Environmental Benefits Calculator, which provides users with a tool for comparing the GHG emissions and the non-renewable energy use of products made with different plastic types.
"This report provides detailed description of the different steps in the Ingeo production chain and how the final data were calculated," said Erwin Vink, environmental affairs manager at NatureWorks.
NatureWorks is jointly owned by Thailand’s largest chemical producer, PTT Global Chemical, and Cargill.
See WSA Nov/Dec 2014 and March/April 2014 for indepth features on the bio textiles sector. Available as ezines, or download from the Technical Library section (search ‘bio’).
