Articles from NatureWorks

NatureWorks Asia Pacific Limited welcomed a high-level delegation led by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, to its manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

NatureWorks, the leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, today announced the grand opening of its new fully integrated Ingeo™ biopolymer manufacturing facility in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.

Leading biomaterials manufacturer, NatureWorks, has expanded the capabilities of its product line of Ingeo™ biopolymers with the introduction of the Ingeo Extend platform. The new platform is designed to enable faster rates of biodegradation and disintegration and achieve new levels of productivity that enable the commercial-scale use of biobased Ingeo PLA.

NatureWorks, a global leader in sustainable biopolymer innovation, is proud to announce the launch of Ingeo 3D300, the company’s newest specially engineered 3D printing grade. Designed for faster printing without compromising quality, Ingeo 3D300 sets a new benchmark in additive manufacturing by offering enhanced efficiency and exceptional performance.

Today NatureWorks, the leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, announced the appointment of Roger Tambay as the company’s Chief Growth Officer and Roger Kempa as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. The new executive officers are joining NatureWorks as the company enacts the first phase of its global expansion plans with the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Thailand. Both leaders underscore NatureWorks’ ambitions for growth and innovation as the global market for biobased materials accelerates alongside fast-evolving legislation and regulation around plastics and material circularity.

NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, today announced the historic financial support from Krungthai Bank PCL to optimize the capital structure for the new fully-integrated Ingeo™️ PLA manufacturing facility in Thailand. The financing from Krungthai Bank, Thailand’s third largest bank, amounting to $350M USD (12,600M Baht Equivalent), is one of the singular largest loans in the bank’s decades-long history and shows confidence in NatureWorks’ market leadership and global economic impact. Today, the companies participated in a signing ceremony to celebrate this milestone.

NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, has optimized a compostable coffee pod solution compatible with Keurig® brewers for the North American market. Made possible by a multi-year partnership with IMA Coffee, global market leader in the manufacturing of coffee handling, processing, and packaging technologies, this market-leading solution delivers high quality brewing performance, can be produced at commercial speeds matching incumbents, and is made from compostable, biobased materials. The partnership between NatureWorks and IMA Coffee began in April 2021 with accelerated testing announced in February of 2022. IMA Coffee and NatureWorks presented on this new coffee pods solution at the AMI Single-Serve Capsules conference held from March 19-20 in Boston, MA.

Today NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, announced the appointment of Erik Ripple as the company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. Ripple will succeed interim President and CEO, Jill Zullo, who has served in the role since March 2023 when former CEO, Rich Altice, retired from NatureWorks.

A new study reveals that coffee capsules made with Ingeo™️ PLA biopolymer from NatureWorks outperform aluminum, conventional plastics, and other compostable capsules when it comes to sustainability performance. The independent study conducted by Netherlands-based Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, a part of Wageningen University & Research (WUR), assessed the environmental impact and circularity of single-use coffee capsules made from compostable biobased materials, aluminum, and conventional plastics through multiple end-of-life scenarios including industrial composting, recycling, incineration, and landfill. The study also accounted for the fate of the spent coffee grounds within these capsules, finding that compostable capsules keep both the coffee grounds and capsule materials in the loop via organics recycling, making them the most sustainable option. The thermoformed Ingeo-based capsules used in the study were produced by NatureWorks’ partner and food packaging producer, Flo SpA.

NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, has made significant progress on the construction of their new fully integrated Ingeo™️ PLA biopolymer manufacturing facility in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. As a fully integrated PLA complex, the plant will include three manufacturing facilities: lactic acid fermentation, lactide monomer production, and polymerization. The facility will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tons of Ingeo biopolymer and produce the full portfolio of Ingeo grades. This effort reflects the company’s commitment to expanding customer access to fully biobased, low-carbon biomaterials with unique performance attributes valued by global downstream packaging and fiber markets.

NatureWorks, leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers, announces, in collaboration with Jabil Inc., a global manufacturing solutions provider, the availability of an Ingeo™ PLA-based powder formulation for powder-bed fusion technologies, including selective laser sintering (SLS) printer platforms. The new product marketed as Jabil PLA 3110P, offers a cost-effective option, with lower sintering temperature, and 89% smaller carbon footprint1 compared to the incumbent PA-12. Ingeo PLA is derived entirely from annually renewable resources, meeting demand for a biobased alternative to petrochemical-based powders, like PA-12.

Leading biopolymer and polylactic acid (PLA) manufacturer NatureWorks has further expanded the performance attributes delivered by Ingeo biopolymer in hygiene applications with the introduction of Ingeo 6500D for nonwovens. The new Ingeo solution offers increased softness and strength as well as improved fluid management when combined with optimized hydrophilic surface finish technology. As a certified renewably sourced, low carbon and biobased material, Ingeo 6500D also meets the growing demand from brands and consumers for products made from more sustainable materials.

NatureWorks, the world’s leading manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, hosted a cornerstone laying ceremony to celebrate construction of their new Ingeo™ PLA manufacturing complex in Thailand. The ceremony which took place on February 1st, 2023 commemorated the progress made to date on the new fully integrated biopolymer facility. The day also featured a ceremonial groundbreaking that mirrored the ceremony held in Blair, Nebraska, USA in 2000 when NatureWorks began construction on the world’s first commercial scale PLA manufacturing facility.

NatureWorks, the world’s leading manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, has selected TTCL Public Company Limited (SET: TTCL) as the general contractor for procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup support services for their new Ingeo™️ PLA manufacturing complex in Thailand. The new facility is designed to be fully integrated and will include production of lactic acid, lactide, and polymer. Located on the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC) in Nakhon Sawan Province, the manufacturing site will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tons of Ingeo biopolymer and will produce the full portfolio of Ingeo grades.

Announced back last April 27th, 2021, NatureWorks and IMA Coffee’s joint strategic partnership accelerates on the first significant trial phase on K-Cup compatible compostable coffee pods.

In response to rapid growth in the market for sustainable biomaterials, NatureWorks today announced their intent to open a new headquarters and advanced biopolymer research facility in Plymouth, MN. Expanded laboratory capabilities will support research into the full circular lifecycle of Ingeo™ biopolymers from next generation fermentation technology to new applications, to increased functionality.

Continuing its global manufacturing expansion plan, NatureWorks, the world’s leading manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, has obtained final authorization from parent companies, GC International Corporation Company Limited, a subsidiary of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC) and Cargill Incorporated (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 the world’s first PLA facility designed to be fully integrated.

NatureWorks, the world’s leading manufacturer of low-carbon PLA biopolymers made from renewable resources, announced today its sponsorship of PGA Tour winner Brendon Todd. Todd will be featured in NatureWorks’ social media efforts and corporate brand development opportunities. The NatureWorks logo will be displayed on Todd’s shirt at all PGA Tour events he participates in this year including the upcoming United States Open Championship.

NatureWorks, the world’s leading manufacturer of low-carbon PLA biopolymers made from renewable resources, announced today the completion of key milestones in their global manufacturing expansion plan for a new fully integrated Ingeo™ PLA production facility that is anticipated to open in Thailand by 2024, subject to shareholder approval. When fully operational the new plant will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tons of Ingeo biopolymer and will produce the full portfolio of Ingeo grades.

NatureWorks, the world’s leading manufacturer of low-carbon Ingeo™ PLA biopolymers, and IMA Coffee, global market leader in coffee handling, processing, and packaging, today announced that they have entered into a joint strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the market for high performing K-Cup compatible compostable single-serve coffee pods in North America. The multi-year partnership brings together NatureWorks’ decades of expertise with compostable materials, formulations, and processing technology with IMA’s industry-leading competencies and application-specific know-how encompassing all stages of coffee handling, processing, and packaging.

NatureWorks continues to grow its portfolio of Ingeo™ biopolymers specially designed for additive manufacturing with the introduction of Ingeo 3D700 for use in large-format 3D printing. Monofilaments made with Ingeo biopolymer PLA are broadly used in the desktop 3D printing market having notable performance characteristics such as precise detail, good adhesion to build plates with no heating needed, reduced warping or curling, and low odor while printing. These properties make Ingeo well-suited for 3D printing using many different types of printers and for a broad range of printing applications from consumer-level to industrial applications.