Packs and Closures

The supply of polylactic acid (PLA) for packaging is set to increase after Teijin, the Japanese plastics manufacturer, took a 50% stake in PLA producer NatureWorks.

US conglomerate Cargill, which owns the other half of NatureWorks, said it planned to raise capacity at the firm's Nebraska production facility, which can produce up to 140,000 tonnes a year, and "accelerate NatureWorks' global sales growth".

Teijin also owns 50% of DuPont Teijin Films, which makes polyester films for packaging and has just created a clear heat-sealable film that for the first time uses post-consumer recyclate.

Cargill vice-chairman Guillaume Bastiaens said NatureWorks would benefit from Teijin's expertise in fibres, films and plastic compounds.

Although many companies want to use PLA, a polymer made from corn starch, in packaging applications, a shortage of supply has affected adoption of the material.

In April, bioplastics developer Stanelco said the shortage of PLA was delaying development of its Biotec range of products.