Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) and Metabolix have announced
that ADM will build the first commercial plant to produce a new
generation of high-performance natural plastics that are eco-friendly
and based on sustainable, renewable resources. The plant will have an
initial annual capacity of 50,000 tons per year, be located at a major
ADM North American site and serve the joint venture being established by
the companies.
The plant will produce PHA natural plastics that have a wide variety of
applications in products currently made from petrochemical plastics,
including coated paper, film, and molded goods. The PHA natural plastics
are produced using a fully biological fermentation process that converts
agricultural raw materials, such as corn sugar, into a versatile range
of plastics that have excellent durability in use, but are compostable
in both hot and cold compost, and are biodegraded even in the marine
environment.
“The plastics created from PHA polymers are natural, biodegradable and
renewable, and we are pleased to begin their commercial production,”
stated G. Allen Andreas, ADM Chairman, Chief Executive and President.
“As the world’s demand for petroleum continues to increase,ADM believes
that this facility is a positive step towards producing renewable
plastics that offer the global marketplace an alternative to traditional
petroleum-derived plastics.”
“A broadly useful family of bio-based, biodegradable natural plastics
will be commercially available for the first time,” stated Jim Barber,
President and CEO of Metabolix. “Consumers and users concerned by the
negative impacts of persistent petrochemical plastics on the environment
and their dependence on volatile, non-renewable resources from unstable
regions will now have a practical alternative.”
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.
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 the 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
or
Metabolix Contacts:
James J. Barber
President and CEO
617/492-0505 x225
barber@metabolix.com
www.metabolix.com
or
Thomas Auchincloss
Chief Financial Officer
617/492-0505 x221
auchincloss@metabolix.com
www.metabolix.com