Plants, not plastic, to reduce energy use

NatureWorks LLC, Minnetonka, Minn., claims that its new proprietary manufacturing process for Ingeo™ bioresin reduces CO2 emissions by 60 percent and nonrenewable energy use by 30 percent. When emission and energy usage to produce Ingeo are compared to those for producing petroleum-based plastics, the green gains are substantial; the improved Ingeo production consumes 56 percent less energy than an equivalent weight of PET plastic. To formulate the comparison, NatureWorks measured every significant input and output from seed planting to plastic resin being shipped through the factory gates. For more information, check out Volume 6, Issue 2 of the Ingeonews at www.natureworksllc.com.