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April 6, 2001

Japanese pursue corn-based fiber

Although Cargill Dow's PolyLactic Acid (PLA) plant in Blair, Neb. won't be producing a corn-based polymer until next year, international textile manufacturing companies are recognizing the benefits of replacing petroleum-based polyester with fabric made from corn and are lining up to place their orders.

Textile manufacturer Kanebo Gohsen Ltd. of Japan, along with representatives of Cargill Dow's PLA plant, the Japanese company Itochu International and the U.S. Grains Council recently visited the National Corn Growers Association to explain the potential for PLAs use in fabrics and to display samples of the products that are being tested in select Japanese markets.

Annually, Cargill Dow plant is expected to turn 14 million bushels of corn into 300 million pounds of PLA. Many Japanese favor PLA products because PLA benefits range from biodegradability to better wicking properties that dry faster to odor reduction because PLA doesn't support bacterial growth.

"This is a totally new product, similar to other synthetic fabrics common in most clothing today. PLA will replace petroleum-based polyester fibers that aren't easily recyclable," said Rene Shunk, NCGA director of business development and corn processing research. "The variety of uses makes PLA a very exciting opportunity.

"PLA clothing is not a novelty item. PLA, either as a blend or as 100 percent, improves performance in a variety of clothing and other items, such as polo shirts, active and athletic wear, sweaters, ties, denim, T-shirts, undershirts and socks. For example, PLA can make fantastic shirts that have a soft feel like silk, shirts you'd chose over others."

Shunk said Japanese like PLA products because they are environmentally sound, renewable, friendly technology.

"The pioneering work that NCGA supported has contributed to very near, very real commercialization," she noted. "Originally NCGA funded application research projects to improve PLA. This is an example of the commercialization of that research."