NatureWorks Passes Final Authorization Milestone for Manufacturing Plant in Thailand
MINNETONKA, MN – Continuing its global manufacturing expansion plan, NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, has obtained final authorization from parent companies — GC International Corp. Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of PTT Global Chemical Public Co. Ltd. (GC) and Cargill Inc. (Cargill) — to build a new Ingeo™ PLA manufacturing complex in Thailand. NatureWorks plans to invest in excess of $600 million to construct the complex, which will include production sites for lactic acid, lactide and polymer, making it reportedly the world’s first PLA facility designed to be fully integrated.
“Thanks to the ongoing support of our parent companies, our plans for a second Ingeo PLA manufacturing location continue to progress,” said Rich Altice, President and CEO of NatureWorks. “This authorization was an important milestone that ensures we will be ready to begin construction in 2022 on an integrated manufacturing complex that will help us address the increasing global market demand for sustainable materials.”