Expansion Management

Drink Up - Your Water Bottle is Helping the Environment

Feb. 14, 2009

Manufacturing PET (polyethylene terephthalate), the polymer most commonly used to make water and soda bottles, emits 3.4 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram of resin produced. But NatureWorks LLC has a plastic called Inego that is made from plants and not oil. Its manufacturing process emits 77% less CO2 -- 0.75 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram of resin. It also consumes 56% less energy than the equivalent weight of PET, according to the company.

The manufacturing facility, located in Blair, Nebraska, opened in 2002 and four years later in an effort to offset all non-renewable energy used for the entire 2006 production of Inego, purchased Renewable Energy Certificates.

NatureWorks has had some help in developing this product and process including its parent Cargill, a network of biotechnology firms, universities, and government research laboratories. The effort was supported in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, totaling about $25 million.

The creation of this company is interesting in that it began in 1997 as a Cargill research project looking for innovative uses of carbohydrates from plants as feedstock for more sustainable plastics. In 2007 it became a joint venture between Cargill and Teijin Ltd. of Japan.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Expansion Management & the Biotech & Life Sciences Industries

Email: [email protected]

Follow Adrienne on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Call: 216-931-9235

Senior Editor Adrienne Selko manages IndustryWeek’s Expansion Management, delivering ideas and information about how successful manufacturers leverage location to gain competitive advantage. She explores the strategies behind why companies located their headquarters, research institutes, factories, warehouse and distribution centers and other facilities where they did, and how they benefit from the decision.

Adrienne is also the editorial coordinator of the IndustryWeek Expansion Management Roundtable events, which unites economic development professionals to network and discuss the latest trends in site location.

As well, Adrienne tells the stories of successful companies in the biotechnology and life sciences industries.

In the past, Adrienne has managed IndustryWeek’s award-winning website, overseeing eNewletters, webinars, and contributed content. Before joining the staff, Adrienne was managing editor of corporate publications at a large regional financial institution. She also ran a public relations and marketing company that published a best-selling healthcare book.

Adrienne received a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and is especially interested in wellness and natural health.