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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."

3 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Easily incorporated by n-baxley · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think the biggest advantage that this has over other "Natural" alternatives is that it will be easily converted to by polymer manufacturers. This article talks about how the NatureWorks stuff is delivered to manufacturers. It comes in small plastic pellets that manufacturers are used to handling. There are some adjustments to be made, the article doesn't mention what they are, but the plants will not have to completly retool to begin using this. I suppose that if they could tool their plants in such a way as to use either the NatureWorks or petroleum based pellets, they could play the two technologies off each other and lower the cost of producing things. Not that we'd see any price reduction, but the thought is nice.

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  2. 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 :-)

  3. dislexic today... by bpowell423 · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I first read that headline, I read "Corn made from plastic". I had that back in elementary school. :) Plastic made from corn, though... that's cool.