Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Plastics News
Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Recycling
    • Sustainability
    • Bioplastics
    • Technology & Materials
    • Injection Moulding
    • Blow Moulding
    • Extrusion
    • Thermoforming
    • 3D printing
    • Technology
    • Materials
    • Machinery
  • Opinion
    • View Point
  • Events
    • Our Exhibitions
    • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
    • Ask the Expert
    • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
    • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Bioplastics Live
    • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
    • Plastics Recycling Show Middle East & Africa
  • Prices & Resources
    • Polymer Prices
    • Data Reports
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Media Pack
  • Subscribe
  • Digital magazine
    • Digital Magazine
  • Multimedia
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
May 26, 2022 02:06 PM

CJ Bio, NatureWorks sign letter of intent for long-term cooperation

Karen Laird
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Altice

    Rich Altice, President & CEO of NatureWorks, and Seung Jin Lee, Head of the Biomaterials Business at CJ BIO, gathered to advance the growing collaboration between the two companies.

     

    CJ Bio, a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang specialised in the production of fermentation-based bioproducts, and NatureWorks, a leading producer of PLA, have signed a letter of intent (LOI) establishing a strategic alignment between the two organisations. The companies are now working toward a Master Collaboration Agreement (MCA), that will govern their collaboration on the development of sustainable materials solutions based on CJ Bio’s PHACT Marine Biodegradable Polymers and NatureWorks’ Ingeo biomaterials technology. Both companies realise the potential to further enhance performance and end-of-use solutions for biopolymers, and increase the level of adoption across the board. The goal of the agreement is therefore to develop high-performance biopolymers to replace fossil fuel-based plastics in applications ranging from compostable food packaging and food serviceware, to personal care, and beyond.

    PLA has experienced significant growth in recent years. As one of the pioneers in this area, NatureWorks has developed many of the leading high-volume applications for PLA, which it markets under the Ingeo brand. CJ Bio recently announced commercial-scale production of PHA following the inauguration of a new production facility in Pasuruan, Indonesia, and is today the only company in the world producing amorphous PHA. The company just launched the first PHA product under its new PHACT brand, named PHACT A1000P.

    The decision to combine the expertise and technology platforms of the two companies makes good sense.

    “The demand for sustainable products continues to grow around the world… As we look toward the future, we want to amplify the impact of our Ingeo technology with promising, new bio-based solutions, and we feel that with its PHACT aPHA technology, CJ Bio is an ideal partner to achieve our goal,” said NatureWorks’ CEO Rich Altice.

    Very promising results have already been shown when using CJ Bio’s unique amorphous PHA in combination with Ingeo biopolymer.

    Amorphous PHA is a softer, more rubbery version of PHA that offers fundamentally different performance characteristics than crystalline or semi-crystalline forms of PHA. It is certified biodegradable under industrial compost, soil (ambient), and marine environments. Modifying PLA with amorphous PHA leads to improvements in mechanical properties, such as toughness, and ductility, while maintaining clarity. It also allows adjustment in the biodegradability of PLA and can potentially lead to a home compostable product.

    “Plastics are an essential material that improves people’s lives, but their fossil sourcing and after-use impact present a major climate challenge that must be addressed,” says Seung Jin Lee, head of the Biomaterials Business at CJ Bio. “NatureWorks and its Ingeo technology have already helped by bringing to market new material functionality and after-use options. They have extensive product and applications development capability, supporting, for example flexible and rigid packaging that we believe can benefit from our PHACT amorphous PHA technology.”

    Newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Sustainable Plastics' news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Sustainable Plastics Media Kit Cover

    Subscriptions to Sustainable Plastics, the leading Pan-European magazine for the circular plastics industry.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    "In a changing world, Sustainable Plastics is a constant: a platform the plastics industry can rely on to deliver the news and knowhow impacting the industry going forward”

    Contact Us

    11 Ironmonger Lane, EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom 
     

    Customer Service:
    1-313-446-0450

    [email protected]

     

    Resources
    • Advertise
    • Sitemap
    • Careers
    • Subscribe
    Affiliates
    • Plastics News
    • LSR World
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Tire Business
    • Rubber News
    • Automotive News
    • Automotive News Europe
    • Crain Publications
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Recycling
      • Sustainability
      • Bioplastics
      • Technology & Materials
        • Injection Moulding
        • Blow Moulding
        • Extrusion
        • Thermoforming
        • 3D printing
        • Technology
        • Materials
        • Machinery
    • Opinion
      • View Point
    • Events
      • Our Exhibitions
        • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
        • Plastics Recycling Show Middle East & Africa
      • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
      • Ask the Expert
      • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
      • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
      • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Bioplastics Live
    • Prices & Resources
      • Polymer Prices
      • Data Reports
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Media Pack
    • Subscribe
    • Digital magazine
      • Digital Magazine
    • Multimedia