PHA plant will produce renewable, biodegradable plastics from corn
Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) and Metabolix have selected
Clinton, Iowa as the location for the first commercial plant for PHA
natural plastics. This plant will have an initial annual capacity of
50,000 tons per year, and will produce a new generation of
high-performance natural plastics that are eco-friendly and based on
sustainable, renewable resources.
“We are pleased to announce Clinton, Iowa as the location for the first
commercial plant to produce PHA-based plastics, which are renewable,
biodegradable and suitable for multiple applications,” stated G. Allen
Andreas, Chairman, Chief Executive and President of ADM. “PHA natural
plastics offer the global marketplace an alternative to traditional
petroleum-derived plastics, and ADM is proud to use the farmers’ harvest
to create new products for the emerging market for ag-based chemical and
industrial products.”
The PHA plant will be located adjacent to ADM’s wet corn mill in
Clinton. The plant will utilize starch from the mill’s existing corn
grind capacity as raw material for PHA production.
In 2004, ADM and Metabolix announced a strategic alliance to
commercialize the Metabolix proprietary PHA technology, which is
protected by over 130 issued and pending U.S. patents. Then in February,
the companies announced that they would build the first commercial plant
to produce PHA natural plastics at a to-be-determined location.
Construction, expected to be complete in mid 2008, is subject to
applicable governmental approvals.
PHA natural plastics are a broad and versatile family of polymers that
range in properties from rigid to elastic, and they can be converted
into molded and thermoformed goods, extruded coatings and film, blown
film, fibers, adhesives, and many other products. They have excellent
shelf life and resistance even to hot liquids, greases, and oils, yet
they biodegrade in aquatic, marine and soil environments and under
anaerobic conditions such as found in septic systems and municipal waste
treatment plants. They can be both hot and cold composted. They are made
using proprietary processes developed by Metabolix from renewable and
sustainable agricultural raw materials.
About Metabolix
Founded in 1992, Metabolix, Inc. uses sophisticated biotechnology to
produce environmentally friendly performance materials from renewable
resources. Metabolix is a world leader in applying the advanced tools of
metabolic engineering and molecular biology to efficiently produce PHA
biobased natural plastics in microbial systems and directly in non-food
plant crops. For more information, please visit www.metabolix.com.
About ADM
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a world leader in agricultural
processing and fermentation technology. ADM is one of the world's
largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is also a
leader in the production of soy meal and oil, ethanol, corn sweeteners
and flour. In addition, ADM produces value-added food and feed
ingredients. Headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, ADM has over 25,000
employees, more than 250 processing plants and net sales for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 2005 of $35.9 billion. Additional information can be
found on ADM's Web site at www.adm.com.
ADM Media Relations
217/424-5413
media@adm.com