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Annually Renewable Resource
A renewable resource, such as corn is milled, separating
starch from the raw material. Unrefined dextrose, in turn, is
processed from the starch. Future technology enhancements may
eliminate the milling step and allow for utilization of even
more abundant agricultural by-products.
Fermentation
Cargill Dow LLC turns dextrose into lactic acid using a
fermentation process similar to that used by beer and wine
producers. This is the same lactic acid that's used as a food
additive and is found in muscle tissue in the human body.
Intermediate Production
Through a special condensation process, a cyclic intermediate
dimer, referred to as lactide, is formed.
Polymer Production
This monomer lactide is purified through vacuum
distillation. Ring opening polymerization of lactide is
accomplished through a solvent-free melt process.
Modification for Customers
A wide range of products that vary in molecular weight and
crystallinity can be produced, allowing Cargill Dow LLC to
produce the exact specification for NaturesPLAstic™.
How it's Unmade
NatureWorks™ fits all disposable systems and is compostable.
With the proper infrastructure, products such as
NaturesPLAstic™ can be recycled back to a monomer and into
polymers. Thus, at the end of the life cycle,
NaturesPLAstic™ products can be broken down into its' simplest
parts so that no sign of it remains.
Reduced Fossil Resource Use
Because NaturesPLAstic is derived from annually renewable
resources, it used 20-50% less fossil resources than
comparable petroleum-based products.
Reduced CO2 Emissions
Because NaturesPLAstic™ with NatureWorks™ PLA recycles the
earth's carbon, it potentially reduces the CO2 in the
atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere when
growing the feed stock crop and is returned to the earth when PLA is degraded.
* All statements on how NaturesPLAstic™
PLAwith NatureWorks™ PLA is based on Cargill Dow LLC statements.
For more information on NatureWorks™, please visit the
NatureWorks™ Website at
http://www.cargilldow.com/natureworks.asp
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