GC International, a subsidiary of PTT Global Chemical Public Company (GC), and Cargill have authorised the construction of a new integrated biopolymer production facility in Thailand.
To be located at the Nakhon Sawan Bio-complex (NBC) in Nakhon Sawan Province, the new Ingeo polylactic acid (PLA) manufacturing facility will see an investment of more than $600m.
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The new fully integrated biopolymer production facility will comprise production sites for lactic acid, lactide, and polymer. It will have capacity to produce nearly 75,000 tonnes of biopolymer per year.
It will be specifically designed to manufacture Ingeo biopolymer.
The new manufacturing complex will use advanced biopolymer technology and around 110,000 tonnes of sugar per year from Thai sugarcane farmers as raw materials.
GC and Cargill are the joint owners of NatureWorks.
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By GlobalDataSlated to be operational in 2024, the plant will be NatureWorks’ second PLA biopolymer production facility and the first bio-complex in Thailand to be established in accordance with the BCG Economy model.
Ingeo PLA can be used in a range of applications that include food packaging, wiping cloths, 3D printing filament, coffee capsules, tea bags, diapers, hygiene masks, and home appliances.
GC CEO Kongkrapan Intarajang said: “GC, Thailand’s leading chemical company and the world’s leading environmentally friendly bio-chemical producer, is committed operating in accordance with sustainability guidelines and circular economy principles. Sustainability creates balanced growth in economic, social and environmental dimensions, driven by the framework of the SDGs.
“Today, GC and Cargill, joint owners of NatureWorks, the top PLA biopolymer manufacturer globally, are ready to expand investment in the biochemical sector following the BOI’s investment promotion approval of NatureWorks.”
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The new NatureWorks manufacturing complex will be built at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. Credit: Business Wire.
