Some 24 years after opening its first full-scale manufacturing plant
in Blair, Nebraska, Ingeo PLA manufacturer NatureWorks has
opened its new fully integrated Ingeo biopolymer plant in Nakhon
Sawan, Thailand.The new site brings together lactic acid production
derived from locally sourced sugarcane, lactide monomer production
and polymer manufacturing in a single, fully integrated complex.
The facility builds on more than two decades of Ingeo innovation and
commercial production, further advancing the ability of NatureWorks
to deliver high-performance, sustainable materials at global scale.
As the first PLA manufacturer to establish a second production
facility, this expansion underscores the company’s commitment to
meeting growing global demand for sustainable, low-carbon materials
across packaging, fibres and consumer applications.
The plant has an annual production capacity of approximately 75,000
metric tons of Ingeo biopolymer and is designed to produce the full
portfolio of grades. Located within the Nakhon Sawan BioComplex,
the site supports efficient regional supply chains and access to
abundant, renewable feedstocks.Ingeo biopolymer produced at this
facility is made from carbon derived from annually renewable
resources. Production at the site is designed to support a carbon
neutral to net-negative profile at the polymer level, based on life cycle
assessment data.The investment also contributes to regional
economic development, creating skilled jobs and supporting local
agricultural communities through the sourcing of sugarcane
feedstock. By integrating production within the Nakhon Sawan
BioComplex, NatureWorks is strengthening partnerships across the
local value chain while advancing more sustainable industrial
practices.NatureWorks marked the grand opening with a formal
ceremony attended by company leadership, partners, government
officials, regional stakeholders and customers, celebrating the start of
full commercial operations at the site.
“With the opening of our Nakhon Sawan facility, we are
taking a major step forward in scaling access to Ingeo
biopolymers globally,” said NatureWorks CEO Erik
Ripple. “This fully integrated site enables us to better
serve our customers while advancing the transition to
renewable, lower-impact materials.”
“This grand opening represents the next chapter in a journey that
began decades ago with a simple idea – to create better materials
from renewable resources,” added Colleen May, president of Cargill
Bioindustrials and chairperson of the NatureWorks Board. “With this
new facility, we are strengthening our ability to scale Ingeo
biopolymers globally while helping our customers meet growing
demand for low-carbon solutions.”