NatureWorks expands the capabilities of its Ingeo™ biopolymer product line by launching the Ingeo Extend platform.

The new platform aims to achieve faster biodegradation and decomposition speeds, and to realize new levels of productivity, enabling the bio-based Ingeo PLA to be used at a commercial scale.

Compostability is 8 times faster than existing PLA grades

The new grades in the Ingeo Extend platform are designed to achieve faster compostability, up to 8 times faster than other existing PLA grades. They can also be blended with other existing Ingeo PLA grades to enhance their relative biodegradation and disintegration rates.

Ingeo Extend 4950D - the first product on this platform, is a new type of PLA polymer launched by NatureWorks that can improve the production efficiency of BOPLA films and reduce their production costs. It also allows for a stretch ratio of up to 7 times in the transverse direction (TD). It can be used with other Ingeo PLA grades to produce films more economically on equipment typically suitable for BOPP manufacturing.

Oriented film manufacturers and brand owners can use Ingeo Extend 4950D to reduce the production cost of BOPLA. Additionally, biaxial films made with Ingeo Extend 4950D decompose faster compared to unmodified Ingeo PLA, depending on the amount incorporated into the PLA blend. Sealing performance is also improved, especially in co-extruded film structures, where Ingeo Extend 4950D can be added up to 15% in the sealing layer. The new BOPLA films made with Ingeo Extend 4950D have high heat resistance up to 130 - 140C, excellent transparency, and good mechanical properties, including low shrinkage.

NatureWorks Chief Growth Officer Roger Tambay said, "Brand owners and film producers are increasingly demanding low-cost biaxial films for compostable food packaging, and Ingeo Extend 4950D biaxial film is an ideal choice to replace small-sized food packaging made from persistent polymers such as polypropylene. Due to sorting challenges or the inability to access end-use markets for recyclables, these packages are difficult to recycle. Of course, small-sized packaging films are more suitable for composting than recycling. With this new platform and the Ingeo Extend 4950D grade, we can meet this demand, moving beyond niche applications or single product lines to achieve production scale. It is now more feasible than ever to replace fossil-based, persistent plastics with compostable, bio-based materials."

technology for producing cost-effective packaging

The recent growth in extended producer responsibility legislation in the United States, as well as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in Europe, has increased the demand for compostable flexible films and food packaging. These materials are crucial for achieving diversion targets. The Ingeo Extend platform technology will be able to produce cost-effective, high-performance compostable packaging. It is ideal for items that carry food waste and are difficult to recycle on a large scale. Examples include condiment packets, snack and candy wrappers, salad bags, and lids for creamers, coffee pods, and sauce dip containers.

Using compostable packaging to transfer food waste to compost and away from landfills has a measurable impact on climate and environment. By replacing fossil-based plastics, Ingeo reduces the carbon footprint of packaging by an average of 73%. Additionally, degrading food waste in landfills is the third largest source of methane emissions globally. Transferring this waste to compost helps reduce emissions while creating valuable soil amendments. These amendments improve soil structure and enable carbon dioxide sequestration. Furthermore, a study conducted by HYDRA Marine Sciences confirmed that Ingeo PLA does not produce persistent microplastics in the environment.