Teijin (Tokyo / Japan; www.teijin.co.jp) has started production of its heat-resistant “Biofront” bioplastic at a demonstration plant in Matsuyama, Ehime / Japan. Previously, the company manufactured what it claims to be the world’s first mass-produced stereocomplex PLA at a 200 t/y pilot plant in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi / Japan.

Teijin, which dissolved its NatureWorks bioplastics jv with Cargill (Minneapolis, Minnesota / USA; www.cargill.com) in July 2009, said the addition of the demonstration plant raises production capacity to around 1,000 t/y, which will enable it to begin developing a full-scale market for the material.