NatureWorks Achieves Milestones in Launching Thailand’s First Fully Integrated Ingeo PLA Facility

NatureWorks, the global leader in low‑carbon PLA biopolymers derived from renewable resources, has reached critical milestones in its strategy to expand manufacturing capacity worldwide. The company plans to open a fully integrated Ingeo® PLA production complex in Thailand by 2024, pending shareholder approval.

The new facility, located within the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC) in Nakhon Sawan province, will have an annual capacity of 75,000 metric tons (165.3 million pounds) of Ingeo® biopolymer. It will manufacture the complete Ingeo® portfolio of grades, positioning NatureWorks to meet rising global demand for sustainable materials.

In late May 2021, the Thailand Board of Investment approved the project, making the NBC the country’s first biocomplex aligned with the government’s bioeconomy policy.

NatureWorks has completed front‑end engineering design with Jacobs (NYSE: J), and final detailed engineering is underway. Additional details on the plant’s specifications will be disclosed later this year.

"These accomplishments mark a pivotal moment in our global expansion," said Rich Altice, president and CEO of NatureWorks. "Approval from the Thailand Board of Investment confirms our commitment to delivering high‑performance, low‑carbon materials. Coupled with our recent capacity expansion in Blair, Nebraska, the new Thai complex will strengthen our supply chain and enable us to meet worldwide demand."

The plant will be the first PLA facility in the world designed for full integration of lactic acid, lactide, and polymer production. By owning and operating all three stages, NatureWorks will achieve process and energy integration that boosts overall efficiency and reduces carbon footprint.

Since 2002, when NatureWorks became the first company to produce PLA at commercial scale, the company has consistently expanded its capabilities. In 2013, the Blair, Nebraska facility was expanded to a 150,000‑metric‑ton annual capacity, making it the largest PLA plant globally. Further enhancements in 2019 enabled a record production level at the site.