New plant changes earth-friendly packaging dynamics
Dextrose-based plastics have been touchy-feely products until now. With the opening of Cargill Dow LLC's Blair, Neb., processing facility, they are becoming economically viable.
The polylactide (PLA)-producing plant, owned jointly by Dow Chemical and grain giant Cargill, came on line last month. The $360 million project is expected to output 300 million pounds of NatureWorks PLA next year. By comparison, the partnership's Savage, Minn., production facility maxed out at 12 million pounds, a level that left PLA in the novelty category.