US PLA producer NatureWorks (Minnetonka, Minnesota; www.natureworksllc.com) has appointed bioplastics products manufacturer Northern Technologies International Corp (Circle Pines, Minnesota / USA; www.ntic.com) to market and sell its “Ingeo” PLA in India and surrounding countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. NatureWorks, which already collaborates with Northern Technologies in North America, said this is the first major sales initiative on the Indian subcontinent for Ingeo.

Under the new agreement, Natur-Tec India, a subsidiary of Northern Technologies, will lead the marketing and sales effort in India and the subcontinent. NatureWorks said it is supplying resin in bulk for distribution by Natur-Tec India, as well as supporting sales efforts by participating in joint sales meetings with multinational companies and providing technical and marketing support. Market development will initially be focused on flexible films for packaging items such as food and branded consumer goods, paper-based packaging with a thin film providing barrier properties, rigid containers and food serviceware.

Northern Technologies has been manufacturing and marketing a range of bio-based and compostable flexible films, rigid injection moulded materials and engineered plastics in India since 2006, initially through a JV and since 2013 through the Natur-Tec India subsidiary.