NatureWorks biopolymer receives Cradle to Cradle silver certification

NatureWorks LLC’s biopolymer product Ingeo has recently received Silver Cradle to Cradle certification from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Made from plants, rather than oil, the product is reportedly the first of its kind to receive the certification.

The institute assesses products for safety to human and environmental health, design for future use cycles and sustainable manufacturing processes. Its Cradle to Cradle Certified Program provides guidelines to help businesses implement the Cradle to Cradle framework, which focuses on using safe materials that can be disassembled and re-used as technical nutrients or composted as biological nutrients.

The certification process sees the product evaluated in five categories: material health, material reutilisation, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social responsibility. Products can be certified at one of four levels - basic, silver, gold or platinum - based on achievement against criteria in all five categories.

“NatureWorks participated in the Cradle to Cradle Certified Program process because we believe its holistic view of products is essential to understanding the true totality of sustainability,” said President and CEO of NatureWorks Marc Verbruggen.

“We are proud that Ingeo is among the first products in the world to achieve this distinction.”