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The Ingeo™ Journey

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The Ingeo™ Journey The Ingeo™ Journey October, 2009 The Ingeo Journey Table of Contents Where it comes from (raw material facts) ............................................... 2 Alternative sugar sources ........................................................................... 2 Cellulosics ................................................................................................... 2 Oil pricing .................................................................................................... 2 GM questions .............................................................................................. 2 Sourcing Options .........................................................................................3 Identity Preserved ....................................................................................... 3 Next steps in the raw materials journey ...................................................... 3 How it’s made (production facts) ............................................................. 4 Ingeo production capacity ........................................................................... 4 Eco-profile: CO2 emissions and energy usage .......................................... 4 Next steps in the production journey .......................................................... 4 What it does (product facts) ..................................................................... 5 In packaging ............................................................................................... 5 Comparing Ingeo & recycled PET .................................................. 6 In durable plastics ...................................................................................... 7 In fibers ...................................................................................................... 8 Next steps in the product journey .............................................................. 8 Where it goes (product recovery facts) .................................................. 9 After use options ........................................................................................ 9 Plastics recycling - the situation today ....................................................... 9 “Zero Waste” Goals .................................................................................... 9 Food Waste Diversion ................................................................................ 9 Identifying Ingeo in the recycle stream ...................................................... 9 Automated sorting with NIR ........................................................... 9 Visually sorting ............................................................................... 10 Landfill Behavior ........................................................................................ 11 The “# 7” resin Identification code, and the facts on BPA ......................... 11 Feedstock Recovery .................................................................................. 12 Progress in Recycling ................................................................................ 12 ATSM resin identification code ................................................................... 12 Next steps in the product recovery journey ................................................ 12 The Ingeo™ Journey Ingeo™ is a unique bio-based material made from plants instead of oil. It was introduced globally in 2003 on a commercially viable scale by NatureWorks LLC, a company dedicated to more sustainable and environmental product and business development. NatureWorks’ mission is to drive real environmental progress through its global market development and communication of the many and varied Ingeo™ branded products made today from either Ingeo™ natural plastic or fiber. Since the journey began, Ingeo™ products Ingeo™ offers a significant reduction in have progressed from idea to reality, green house gas emissions which spearheading a broad assortment of contribute towards global warming and creative innovations from Ingeo™ natural climate change, cuts our dependence on plastics for food & beverage packaging, to oil as a resource material, and offers the serviceware, consumer electronics, and potential for significant waste reduction. durable goods, as well as Ingeo™ fiber for Ingeo™ is fast becoming the ubiquitous clothing, homeware and personal care better lifestyle choice for more responsible products. contemporary consumers. It is a responsible and contemporary innovation material that gives consumers alternative choices for products with a natural origin and a compelling environmental message. Ingeo™ performs well in both its plastic and fiber forms. Used appropriately, its functional qualities deliver performance without compromise to match a growing demand for eco-sensible products that help create the possibility of a better environmental footprint for all involved. And, as with any new technologies or materials, there is often a real need to clarify some of the facts about how it’s made and what makes it different from the oil based plastics and fibers it is replacing today. • Raw Material Facts • Product Facts • Production Facts • Product Recovery Facts 1 Raw Material Facts 1. 2. 3. Not made from oil Today, these plant sugars are The manufacture of Ingeo™ does derived from field corn that is • 100% annually renewably not require genetically modified already grown for many industrial (GM) materials. The ™ resourced. Ingeo and functional end-uses. biopolymer is made from plant • Ingeo ™ currently uses plant sugars based sugars as its source and is In context, Ingeo™ uses less than from field corn as the source certified by Genescan to contain no 1/20th of 1% (0.05%) of the annual material for manufacture. genetic material of any kind. global corn crop today, and as such However, current US corn grown • This innovation is a journey, where contributes little to no impact on produces a mixed stream of GM and corn is only the starting point, not international or local food chains. ™ conventional corn. To address the destination – Ingeo can be ™ made from any abundantly Ingeo doesn’t require corn, it only variable market demands around available sugar. needs a sugar source, whatever is the world relating to this issue, most readily available depending on NatureWorks offers three certified the geography. In the future, Ingeo™ sourcing options. will be made from cellulosic raw materials, agricultural wastes and non-food plants. Sugars taken from plants that can be There is a debate about bio industries According to the November 2008 grown every year are transformed into contributing to a crisis in food prices. International Energy Association the revolutionary Ingeo™ biopolymer What about Bioplastics? What are the report: needed to create a whole new family real facts? • Oil prices will rebound to more than of Ingeo™ innovations for fresh food Access to affordable food is a $100 a barrel as soon as the economy packaging solutions, food serviceware, fundamental human right and new recovers and will exceed $200 by bottles, films, laminated and foamed thinking and innovative strategies are 2030. structures, clothing, personal care, the needed to help the world sustain itself. home, garden,and consumer There is no single reason and no • “While market imbalances electronics. single solution to the crisis: temporarily cause prices to fall back, it is becoming increasingly apparent • Volatility in energy prices drives that the era of cheap oil is over. volatility in everything else, from Current global trends in energy supply fertilizer and farm equipment, to and consumption are unsustainable.” transportation and food processing. • Combination of population and • Output from the world’s oil fields is wealth growth equals a higher meat declining at a rate of 9%. demand and feedstock price hikes. www.worldenergyoutlook.org • Extreme weather and poor harvests mean an upward pressure on prices. Supply and demand balance is very 150 easily disrupted. $1.00 $0.90 PET Resin Price 130 110 $0.80 90 $0.70 70 $0.60 Alternative sugar sources 50 $/barrel Oil (WTI) Resin Price ($/lb) $0.50 Oil Price 30 $0.40 10 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Source: CMAI Sugar beet Sugar cane Corn Wheat 2 Three ways to buy Ingeo™. 1st option 2nd option 3rd option Genescan Certified Feedstock Sourcing Identity Preserved NatureWorks has made sure that NatureWorks gives real choices NatureWorks offers a choice their unique Ingeo™ resin and the and takes the extra steps needed that shows their commitment to dextrose feed stock material used for those customers who want other innovation, an Ingeo™ biopolymer exclusively in its manufacture does options by purchasing a crop weight production batch made from not contain any GMO material at all equivalent to customers needs and identity preserved conventional due to the high heat used in the mixing this in a stream of corn sources to satisfy our retail basic manufacturing process. conventional and GM corn grown in customer’s particular needs in the area. While it is not possible to this sensitive area. The customer Ingeo™ is certified to be free of any sort the streams, for customers who commitment to production is genetic material by GeneScan Inc., so choose, NatureWorks replaces contingent on following longer lead recognized by both government and the purchase of GM corn with corn times and guaranteed volumes to NGOs as the leading authority for which is source certified and accommodate appropriate farm testing food, feed and raw
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