CJ BIO and NatureWorks Working Towards a Master Collaboration Agreement to Commercialize Novel Biopolymers

CJ BIO (U.S. office in Woburn, Mass.), a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang and leading producer of amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and leading producer of PLA NatureWorks, have signed a letter of intent establishing a strategic alignment between the two organizations and have announced that the two companies are working toward a Master Collaboration Agreement (MCA). The companies will work together to develop sustainable material based on CJ BIO’s Phact marine biodegradable PHA bioplastic and NatureWorks’ Ingeo PLA bioplastic. Their goal is to develop high-performance biopolymers that will replace fossil fuel-based plastics in applications ranging from compostable food packaging and food serviceware to personal care, and beyond.

A pioneer in the development of biobased materials NatureWorks has developed many of the leading high-volume applications for PLA. In recent years, PLA has experienced significant growth as a biobased material in a broad range of finished products. Due to its unique functionality, it has been used to replace petrochemical-based plastics, with 100% biobased content, and enable end-of-use recovery options, including compostability and chemical or coated paper recycling. Both companies realize the potential to further enhance performance and end-of-use solutions for biopolymers and increase the level of adoption across many new applications. By combining their expertise and technology platforms, NatureWorks and CJ aim to deliver next-generation solutions together. Initial development and collaboration are showing very promising results when using CJ BIO’s unique amorphous PHA in combination with Ingeo biopolymer.

CJ BIO is the world's leading supplier of fermentation-based bioproducts for animal nutrition, human nutrition, and biomaterials at its thirteen manufacturing facilities worldwide. The company recently announced commercial-scale production of PHA following the inauguration of a new production facility in Pasuruan, Indonesia. The company reportedly is  currently the world’s only company producing amorphous PHA (aPHA), including the first product under its new Phact brand, named Phact A1000P. Amorphous PHA is a softer, more rubbery version of PHA that offers fundamentally different performance characteristics than crystalline or semi-crystalline forms of PHA. It is certified biodegradable under industrial compost, soil (ambient), and marine environments. Modifying PLA with amorphous PHA leads to improvements in mechanical properties, such as toughness, and ductility, while maintaining clarity. It also allows adjustment in the biodegradability of PLA and can potentially lead to a home compostable product.

NatureWorks and CJ BIO will collect feedback from existing and potential customers across a range of applications and markets including packaging, food serviceware, and organics recycling management to understand the growing need for functional product requirements that also align with sustainability goals. These collaborations will inform the companies’ product and technology development roadmap. The two companies say that the LOI is the start of what is expected to be a long-term relationship between NatureWorks and CJ BIO and are aiming to sign a master collaboration agreement in the near future.