US-based NatureWorks, a supplier of biopolymers with Ingeo fibres and plastics made from plants, not oil, has named Thailand-based PTT Polymer Marketing (PTTPM), the marketing arm of PTT Global Chemical, as its Ingeo distributor in Thailand and Vietnam. PTTPM will bring Ingeo to its broad base of thermoformers, film extruders and injection moulders, initially focusing on the packaging and foodservice ware industries.

The agreement with PTTPM follows soon after NatureWorks opened its Bangkok regional headquarters and shows NatureWorks moving rapidly toward sales channel development in Southeast Asia.

“PTTPM has experienced plastics industry sales and technical personnel, as well as a broad customer base in both Thailand and Vietnam,” said Rich Weber, the Asia/Pacific commercial director for NatureWorks. “We evaluated several distributors and found PTTPM to be the strongest, best positioned and most enthusiastic.”

“We are pleased to expand our portfolio with the addition of Ingeo, a globally recognised performance-based renewable plastic,” said Supachoke Liamkaeo, President of PTTPM. “Our collaboration with NatureWorks now gives companies in Thailand and Vietnam the opportunity to develop a full range of packaging and foodservice ware items offering performance with sustainability.”

Ingeo emits 60% less greenhouse gas and requires 48% less energy to manufacture into resin as compared to such plastics as PET. Ingeo offers converters and brand owners stable pricing as compared to the volatility of the plastics made from petroleum. Ingeo food service items, such as flatware, cups and utensils, are typically biodegradable in industrial composting facilities – enabling the diversion of organics from landfills, where the composting infrastructure exists. Rigid and film-based Ingeo packaging delivers performance advantages. For example, clamshell packaging made with Ingeo requires 20 to 30% less material than a comparable package made from PE, says NatureWorks.