NatureWorks opens PLA facility in Thailand

Manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources NatureWorks has announced the opening of its new fully integrated Ingeo biopolymer manufacturing facility in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand. This is its second manufacturing site; Natureworks also operates a 150,000 tonne/year plant in Blair, Nebraska, in the US.

The Thai facility will have an annual production capacity of approximately 75,000 tonnes of Ingeo biopolymer and the full portfolio of Ingeo grades made from sugarcane feedstock. The company is jointly owned by US-based Cargill and Thailand-based PTT Global Chemical.

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 represents a significant milestone for both NatureWorks and the broader biopolymers industry.

The facility builds on more than two decades of Ingeo innovation and commercial production, further advancing NatureWorks’ ability to deliver high-performance, sustainable materials at global scale, it added.

As the first PLA manufacturer to establish a second production facility, this expansion underscores NatureWorks’ commitment to meeting growing global demand for sustainable, low-carbon materials across packaging, fibre, and consumer applications.

“With the opening of our Nakhon Sawan facility, we are taking a major step forward in scaling access to Ingeo biopolymers globally,” said Erik Ripple, CEO at NatureWorks. “This fully integrated site enables us to better serve our customers while advancing the transition to renewable, lower-impact materials.”

“This facility marks another significant milestone for NatureWorks, reflecting the global growth trajectory of low-carbon materials,” said Narongsak Jivakanun CEO at GC. “In a highly volatile world, bio-based materials are playing an increasingly important role as solutions that enhance industrial resilience. GC is confident that our partnership with Cargill in NatureWorks will be a key driver in advancing our Sustainable Portfolio strategy, while elevating Thailand’s bioplastics industry to the regional level in Asia and creating added value for the country’s agricultural sector.”

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.

The Nakhon Sawan facility will support rapidly growing applications including flexible packaging, compostable food serviceware, nonwoven fibres and 3D printing. It also reinforces NatureWorks’ strategic presence in the Asia Pacific region, where demand for biobased materials continues to accelerate.

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