PLA Meets Generic Criteria Sipco News Network
April 18, 2002
Minneapolis, MI (USA) -The Federal Trade Commission has designated Cargill Dow LLC''s NatureWorks® PLA a generic fiber. The the trade name will remain NatureWorks.
To receive generic classification Cargill Dow had to show: properties and chemical composition that is radically different from other fibers; what commercial use is foreseen; and that the new generic is of importance to the public. PLA joins other classifications including cotton, wool, silk, nylon and polyesters as a recognized fiber category.
Cargill Dow commercial director Andy Shafter called the designation a milestone for the fibers industry. "It is a major honor to be recognized as the first new generic classification of the century," he said "NatureWorks PLA is truly a revolutionary new fiber for textiles."
For a fiber to be classified as PLA it must be a synthetic fiber manufactured from polylactic acid or poly lactate derived from naturally occurring sugars, such as those in corn or sugar beets.
"NatureWorks PLA is unique in that it is melt spinnable and derived from natural plant sugars," said Dr. Jim Lunt, global applications director for Cargill Dow LLC. "In the 1900s the benefits of synthetics from oil were realized. With NatureWorks, we have taken the best performance attributes of a natural and a synthetic and delivered a new fiber derived from renewable resources."
As a fiber, NatureWorks combines the physical characteristics of natural fibers, such as wool, cotton and silk, and conventional synthetics. The fibers show performance as well as environmental benefits that result from using renewable resources like corn.
"The new designation from the FTC will allow us to work with the industry to develop a significant, differentiated product that is important to consumers," Shafer said. "It will pave the way for new applications and successful entry into many areas of the fibers and textile markets." The establishment of a generic will also encourage others to follow our lead in creating more sustainable and environmentally responsible textiles."
Cargill Dow recently completed construction of the company''s first world-scale PLA manufacturing facility in Blair, Neb. At capacity, the manufacturing plant will produce up to 300 million pounds (140,000 metric tons) of PLA per year. F&FI
To receive generic classification Cargill Dow had to show: properties and chemical composition that is radically different from other fibers; what commercial use is foreseen; and that the new generic is of importance to the public. PLA joins other classifications including cotton, wool, silk, nylon and polyesters as a recognized fiber category.
Cargill Dow commercial director Andy Shafter called the designation a milestone for the fibers industry. "It is a major honor to be recognized as the first new generic classification of the century," he said "NatureWorks PLA is truly a revolutionary new fiber for textiles."
For a fiber to be classified as PLA it must be a synthetic fiber manufactured from polylactic acid or poly lactate derived from naturally occurring sugars, such as those in corn or sugar beets.
"NatureWorks PLA is unique in that it is melt spinnable and derived from natural plant sugars," said Dr. Jim Lunt, global applications director for Cargill Dow LLC. "In the 1900s the benefits of synthetics from oil were realized. With NatureWorks, we have taken the best performance attributes of a natural and a synthetic and delivered a new fiber derived from renewable resources."
As a fiber, NatureWorks combines the physical characteristics of natural fibers, such as wool, cotton and silk, and conventional synthetics. The fibers show performance as well as environmental benefits that result from using renewable resources like corn.
"The new designation from the FTC will allow us to work with the industry to develop a significant, differentiated product that is important to consumers," Shafer said. "It will pave the way for new applications and successful entry into many areas of the fibers and textile markets." The establishment of a generic will also encourage others to follow our lead in creating more sustainable and environmentally responsible textiles."
Cargill Dow recently completed construction of the company''s first world-scale PLA manufacturing facility in Blair, Neb. At capacity, the manufacturing plant will produce up to 300 million pounds (140,000 metric tons) of PLA per year. F&FI