Total Petrochemicals and Galactic Escanaffles said the joint-venture plant will produce 1,500 tonnes of polylactic acid (PLA) a year for use in bioplastics, including packaging. PLA is made from plants, including corn. The plant will be based at Galactic Escanaffles site, near Tournai, Belgium. A research and development project, scheduled to run for up to five years, will begin at the same time. The companies have set up a joint venture company, Futerro, to support the development. Galactic said the plant will allow it to develop a new market for its lactic acid, which is obtained from the formation of plant sugar. PLA is compostable and is today used primarily in food packaging and in the textile sector.
