More than food & fuel

Getting More From The Kernel 

We often think of corn as a simple commodity, limited to either food or fuel. However, corn can be processed to utilize any or all of its four major components -- starch, protein, oil and fiber -- in thousands of applications, products and alternative uses.

Corn processing continues to find new uses, which benefit consumers around the world and create new markets for producers.

“As corn prices go up, there becomes increased interest in getting more out of it,” says Larry Johnson, director of the Center for Crop Utilization and Research at Iowa State University. Johnson says that while high corn prices have not had an effect on the amount of research being conducted, it has affected the focus.

“We believe you can produce both food and fuel from corn,” Johnson says. “Edible oil, high quality feed, stillage conversion, bran conversion, all of these things, we’re trying to get more out of corn than we used to get.”

Getting more out of corn is something that is the specialty of NatureWorks LLC. Using biopolymer technology, the company manufactures a plastic called polyactide (PLA) and Ingeo fibers, which are licensed to other companies that provide consumer goods. Because these products are corn-made, they use up to 68% less fossil fuel energy than traditional plastics and can break down into compost.

“Consumers are now brutally aware of how oil-based our economy is, not just in terms of what goes into our gas tank, but the products we buy,” says Steve Davies, global marketing director of NatureWorks LLC. “The consumers now get that we need better options. They are driving huge demands for these products today because they are so much more aware of the impact of what they buy and it’s influence on the environment.”

NatureWorks PLA and Ingeo can be found in a variety of products such as packing materials, carpet, hygiene products, fresh food packaging, cleaners, disposable tableware and apparel. Other products becoming more common included plastic gift cards, weed-blocking landscape covering, durable plastic electronic housings and baby diapers.

“Consumer reaction is typically surprised but positive,” Davies says. “Consumers have the idea that doing something good for the environment means giving up something. It’s viewed as something that wouldn’t work as well or look as good, and we’ve taken a lot of trouble to work with downstream manufacturers to make sure the product performs well, looks good and is good for the environment.”

While the acceptance and growth of these corn-based products has been impressive, Davies says the industry has more development to come. “NatureWorks LLC started in 2003 the world’s first and largest bio-plastic facility, and yet it’s still tiny in terms of the global plastic and fiber market,” Davies says. “What we see going forward is PLA, Ingeo and other bio-plastics becoming a fact of life and the norm.”

 

This growing market which offers new uses for corn will also benefit producers, says Nathan Fields, director of research and business development for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). “If we can diversify the use of corn it will create more marketing opportunities and ultimately help corn growers,” Fields says. “Technology and research in terms of processing is continuously developing, there are a lot of promising applications to be excited about.”

Interested in these new value-added corn products? Check out some of the merchandise on retail shelves that started in a corn field.

-“We milk the cows and grow the bottles” is the motto of Naturally Iowa, Inc. The company packages its certified organic dairy products in PLA containers through a partnership with NatureWorks LLC. For more information visit www.naturallyiowa.com or call 712-542-MILK.

-Mohawk Industries and DuPont’s SmartStrand carpeting is made of readily available agricultural materials, including corn. Stylish, durable and environmentally smart, you can enjoy your corn crop year round right in your living room. For more information visit www.mohawkcarpet.com/carpeting/smartstrandor call 800-2MOHAWK.

-Looking for a unique company promotional item? Corn-based biodegradable plastic mugs, pens, letter openers, rulers and golf tees are available at www.cornmug.com, or call 425-681-2460.

-Get a good night’s sleep with Ingeo fiber pillows and comforters. Available at home stores, these bedding goods offer superior performance and insulation, luxurious comfort, lasting, springy loft and exceptional durability. Visit www.target.com, www.cozywinters.com, or www.bedbathandbeyond.com for more information.

-Look good and feel good by wearing an Ingeo shirt from EcoWear USA of Eden Prairie, MN.  Available in various styles and colors these wrinkle-free, easy care durable shirts will surely make a fashion statement. Furthermore, at the end of its useful life, your Ingeo clothing is fully recyclable. For more information visit www.ecowearusa.com.

-Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart Super Centers now offer PLA packaging on fresh cut fruit, herbs, strawberries, Brussels sprouts and bakery products. Research indicated that with this change to packaging made from corn will save the equivalent of 800,000 gallons of gasoline and reduce more than 11 million lbs. of greenhouse gas emissions.

For additional listings of corn products made using NatureWorks LLC Ingeo fiber and PLA, visit www.ingeofibers.com and www.natureworksllc.com. There you can find more information about the variety of products and where to buy them.

For a complete listing of all products made with corn, visit the NCGA product search page at http://www.ncga.com/research/comm_dev_center/index_PG.asp.