In 1997 two of the world’s industry giants came together to make this story possible by creating Cargill Dow LLC, a stand-alone company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minn., USA. The company invested approximately $750 million in research, development and manufacturing capabilities to bring its revolutionary new technology to commercial reality. Through their combined agricultural and chemical expertise, the company created a process that harnesses the carbon naturally stored in plants from the process of photosynthesis, and used it as the basis to create a resin called NatureWorks™ PLA . The resin can then be spun into Ingeo™ fiber for use in a wide range of textile applications.

The resin to make Ingeo™ originates from the first world-scale PLA plant located in Blair, NE, USA. Encompassing more than 16 acres of Missouri River bottomland, the facility stands on a site that was once, itself, a cornfield. At capacity, the plant produces more than 300 million pounds of PLA annually, requiring 40,000 bushels of locally grown field corn per day and employing up to 100 workers.

In 2003, the company signed master licensing agreements with some of the world’s foremost textile manufacturers to produce and sell Ingeo™ fiber products to the world. By 2004 they had the fashion industry’s attention. Just one year after the launch, Ingeo™ was in the spotlight at Moda, one of the most important Italian textile shows in Milan. Before long, prominent designers such as Bagutta, Versace, Diesel, Moby and more began using 100% Ingeo™ or Ingeo™ Blends because of its performance and/or environmental story.

In early 2005 Cargill bought out Dow Chemicals interest in the program and changed their name to Natureworks LLC. About the same time two brothers, Dennis & Don Lenz, who had spent most of their lives manufacturing and selling apparel to the uniform and promotional products markets found out about Ingeo™. They decided to create an apparel line made from 100% Ingeo fibers for the US market they knew so well. Since the new fiber posed several new challenges for making apparel, their progress would prove to be slow, arduous and demand their best effort. The brothers worked tirelessly and after many setbacks they introduced the line in January of 2007. Dennis Lenz’s company, Mill Direct and Don Lenz’s Future Products combined with the help of a proven marketing partner, New Z Lander Brands in Troy, MI, now offer the marketplace the first real 100% Ingeo fiber performance apparel line you see here today.

The future is bright for new products as well. By the end of 2007, woven goods (dress shirts, aprons, etc) are expected to be available. From there new products will be driven by the consumer demand. We hope you can be a part of the next chapter in this story and make history by improving our future-one shirt at a time.

To find out more about the history of PLA and Ingeo please visit our links page.