Cargill Inc, a leading US manufacturer of products for the agricultural sector, has founded a German subsidiary, Deutsche Cargill GmbH (Graf-Landsbergstr.1, D-41460 Neuss), to sell its biologically degradable plastic "EcoPLA" in Europe. According to Dr. Tanja Jopski, marketing manager for "EcoPLA" at Cargill GmbH, the new material marries the convenience of plastics and the environmental benefits of compostability. The main component is polylactic acid (PLA), produced from dextrose derived from maize or other renewable raw materials. The company says "EcoPLA" granules can be processed into films, deep draw- and injection moulded parts, as well as blown films and nonwovens, using conventional plastics conversion equipment. Cargill, which had sales of more than USD 51bn in fiscal 1994-95, claims to operate the world's largest plant for polylactic acid – with capacities of 4,000 t/y – near Minneapolis, Minnesota / USA.

READER SERVICE: Company profile (German) as well as product information with technical data on types and applications of "EcoPLA" biopolymer (English): PIE-No. 39454.