Plant to produce biodegradable plastics from corn

Decatur, IL— Archer Daniels Midland Company and Metabolix have selected Clinton, Iowa as the location for the first commercial plant for PHA natural plastics. This plant will have an initial annual capacity of 50,000 tons per year and will produce a new generation of high-performance natural plastics that are based on sustainable, renewable resources.

The PHA plant will be located adjacent to ADM’s wet corn mill and will utilize starch from the mill’s existing corn grind capacity as raw material.

Construction is expected to be complete in mid 2008, subject to applicable governmental approvals.

PHA natural plastics are a broad and versatile family of polymers that range in properties from rigid to elastic. They can be converted into molded and thermoformed goods, extruded coatings and film, blown film, fibers, adhesives and many other products. They have excellent shelf life and resistance to hot liquids, greases and oils, yet biodegrade in aquatic, marine and soil environments and under anaerobic conditions such as found in septic and municipal waste treatment plants. They can be both hot and cold composted.