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Plastic Made From Corn

Posted by michael on from the partially-hydrogenated dept.

Dekaner writes "A major supplier of plastic products in the U.S. will soon open a new factory that makes products from corn. The Cargill Dow factory in Blair, Nebraska will convert corn into a biodegradable substance called NatureWorks PLA. It will be used to make soft-drink cups, salad containers and to fill pillows and comforters. The corn-derived polymer will compete directly with products made from petroleum."

1 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. This isn't totally new.... by walt-sjc · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They have been making "plastic" grocery bags from processed corn for almost 10 years now. The next time you shop, check the fine print on the bag to see if the bag is biodegradable. And No, it's not the print that talks about how plastic bags can be used as a population control device...

    Ditto about the biodegradable packing peanuts.

    IMHO, the more we can use renewable recyclable technologies, the better off we are. I for one would love to see fossil fuels go the way of the dinosaur :-)