A breakthrough technology revealed today uses annually renewable resources such as corn or wheat to make polymers for fibers and plastic packaging. These naturally based plastics and fibers perform as well as hydrocarbon-based polymers in many applications.
Carbon is stored in plant starches, which can be broken down into natural plant sugars.
The NatureWorks process allows us tap into the natural raw materials contained within plants and create plastics with performance that is equal to or better than those made from non-renewable sources. CDP currently uses the sugars derived from corn as the feedstock for its new polymers due to its low cost and abundance. However, CDP researchers are actively working on techniques to use many other sources of plant material as the base feedstock. As a result, natural-based polymers potentially could be created nearly anywhere in the world using local plant sources that contain starch or sugar such as wheat, sugar beets or agricultural waste. Clothing made with NatureWorks PLA products will feature a unique combination of attributes such as wrinkle resistance, superior hand, touch and drape, excellent moisture management and resilience.