NatureWorks opens biopolymer manufacturing facility in Thailand
NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, announced the grand opening of its new fully integrated Ingeo biopolymer manufacturing facility in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.
Grand opening ceremony of the new Ingeo facility in Nakhon Sawan on April 29.
“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, Chief Executive Officer at NatureWorks. “This fully integrated site enables us to better serve our customers while advancing the transition to renewable, lower-impact materials.”
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 has an annual production capacity of approximately 75,000 metric tons of Ingeo biopolymer and is designed to produce the full portfolio of Ingeo 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.
The Nakhon Sawan facility will support rapidly growing applications including flexible packaging, compostable food serviceware, nonwoven fibers and 3D printing. It also reinforces NatureWorks’ strategic presence in the Asia Pacific region, where demand for biobased materials continues to accelerate.
