Professional guide

Other materials and yarns

Man-made but not really synthetic? Polyester, but not petroleum-based?

Polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch (in the U.S.) or sugarcanes (rest of world). Although PLA has been known for more than a century, it has only been of commercial interest in recent years, in light of its bio-degradability. PLA has a wide range of applications, such as woven textiles and disposable garments.

PLA is a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-derived products, since the lactides from which it is ultimately produced can be derived from the fermentation of agricultural by-products such as corn starch or other carbohydrate-rich substances like maize, sugar or wheat. PLA is more expensive than many petroleum-derived commodity plastics, but its price has been falling as production increases. The demand for corn is growing, both due to the use of corn for bio-ethanol and for corn-dependent commodities, including PLA. NatureWorks was the primary producer of PLA (bioplastic) in the United States.

Ingeo
NatureWorks® polymers are already proving themselves in success commercial applications in the areas of fiber and nonwovens. When extruded into a high-performance synthetic fiber, the resin is branded as Ingeo™ fiber – an innovative performance fiber ideally suited for apparel, furnishings and nonwovens applications. The natural versatility of Ingeo fibers gives us the opportunity to design new yarns, fabrics and garments for a contemporary wardrobe.

Ingeo fiber works in both pure qualities and innovative blends for everything from dress shirts to draperies. NatureWorks resins and a comprehensive range of Ingeo fiber types fit with all standard nonwoven technologies including: spun lacing, thermo, chemical or resin bonding, calendaring, needle punch, wet laid and spun bond processes. Ingeo™ fiber is the world’s first man-made fiber derived from 100% annually renewable resources – not oil. Ingeo fiber combines the qualities of natural and synthetic fibers in a new way. Strength and resilience are balanced with comfort, softness and drape in textiles. In addition, Ingeo fiber has good moisture management characteristics.Ingeo uses genetically engineered crops; hence, some organic purists such as Patagonia will not use the fibre.