Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is to build a plant in north America to manufacture polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastic from crops.
ADM, an agricultural processing and fermentation technology specialist, said it will be the first commercial PHA plant. Initial capacity will be 50,000tpa and it will serve the joint venture established between ADM and US biotechnology company Metabolix.
PHA plastics are produced using a fermentation process that converts agricultural raw materials such as corn sugar into durable plastics that according to ADM are compostable and biodegradable. Applications for PHA include coated paper, film, and moulded goods.
ADM chief executive Allen Andreas said: “As the world’s demand for petroleum continues to increase, ADM believes that this facility is a positive step towards producing renewable plastics that offer the global marketplace an alternative to traditional petroleum-derived plastics.”
ADM and Metabolix announced a strategic alliance to commercialise the Metabolix proprietary PHA technology in 2004.
