Total Corbion PLA (Gorinchem / The Netherlands; www.total-corbion.com) has appointed Kumru Kimya (Istanbul / Turkey; www.kumrukimya.com) as a non-exclusive distributor in Turkey for its “Luminy” polylactic acid (PLA) resins. The collaboration gives converters in the Turkish market better access to PLA bioplastics, according to the Dutch company.

Kumru Kimya is a biopolymer trading partner in Turkey. It distributes several bio-based and biodegradable materials, including biodegradable “Bio-Flex” PLA-based compounds, “Biograde” cellulose acetate-based materials and the “Fibrolon” wood-plastic composite materials made by FKuR (Willich / Germany; www.fkur.com). The Turkish company also supplies Braskem’s (São Paulo / Brazil; www.braskem.com.br) “I’m Green” polyethylene derived from sugarcane, the “Vestimid Terra” polyamide line from Evonik (Essen / Germany; www.evonik.com) and bio-PET materials from Toyota Tsusho (Nagoya / Japan; www.toyota-tsusho.com).

Luminy PLA resins are made from non-GMO sugarcane feedstock sourced locally in Thailand and are designed for extrusion, thermoforming, injection moulding and fibre spinning processes. The resins are used in packaging, consumer goods, 3D printing, fibres and automotive applications.

Total Corbion PLA inaugurated a PLA plant with a capacity of 75,000 t/y this year in Rayong / Thailand – see Plasteurope.com of 16.09.2019. It produces Luminy PLA in standard and high-heat grades.