US agricultural processing and fermentation specialist Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) and biotechnology company Metabolix have announced that ADM is to build a commercial plant to produce “a new generation of eco-friendly, high performance natural plastics based on sustainable resources”.
The plant, to be located at one of ADM’s North American sites, will have an initial annual capacity of 50,000 tons, producing plastics from fermented polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), an energy storage material synthesised by natural micro-organisms like bacteria. Manufactured using a fully biological process that converts agricultural raw materials like corn sugar into plastics, the polymers will, the project partners say, offer excellent durability alongside compostability in both hot and cold compost and biodegradability even in the marine environment. Indeed in 2004 (Packaging Today – April 2004) Metabolix worked with the US army to develop biodegradable food films which degrade in fresh and marine water.
The biotech company claims PHA “natural plastics” are a “broad and versatile family of polymers that range in properties from rigid to elastic, which can be converted into moulded and thermoformed goods, extruded coatings and film, blown film, fibres, adhesives and many other products”. They are said to offer “excellent shelf life” and even resistance to hot liquids, greases and oils.
Metabolix president and ceo Jim Barber says: “Consumers and users concerned by the negative impacts of persistent petrochemical plastics on the environment and such plastics’ dependence on volatile, non-renewable resources from unstable regions will now have a practical alternative.”
