Polylactic acid (PLA) is already a part of our everyday lives in biodegradable drinking cups and vegetable wrapping foil but it is not yet considered a full alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics, because it costs so much to produce.
The global Polylactic Acid (PLA) market is expected to reach $5.2bn by 2020, according to Allied Market Research (AMR), but the material still faces stiff competition from other products on the market such as PET and PVC and PE.
More deals in the mould of Danisco-DuPont could be feasible, as analysts predict other ingredient firms with small bio-business, such as CSM, will generate acquisition interest.
DSM Food Specialties says it has developed a new enzyme preparation which will offer bread manufacturers a "cost-effective and sustainable alternative" to emulsifiers CSL and SSL (calcium and sodium stearoyl lactylate).
BASF is the most admired chemical company in the world according to
US business magazine Fortune, despite continually pushing up
packaging material prices, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Dor Chemicals has said that it has signed an agreement to purchase
polypropylene packaging products maker Shorko Australia for $24
million (€24.1m) from Dutch chemical company Basell, according to a
report in the Jerusalem News