Peter Kelly
Business Development Manager
Horticulture & Agriculture Products Metabolix / Mirel Biobased Plastics
Kelly@mirelplastics.com

Abstract Mirel™ is a new family of biobased, sustainable, and biodegradable plastics that are environmentally responsible alternatives to a wide variety of petroleum-based plastics. Mirel is made from sustainable resources such as corn sugar and vegetable oils.

These new, high performing biobased materials will biodegrade back to nature in a wide variety of environments including soil, home compost, industrial compost, and in both fresh and salt water. Mirel is stable under variable storage condition resulting in a long shelf that is a vital component to the end user and a significant commercial advantage. Suitable for a variety of applications, Mirel has already been used to produce samples in the agricultural, horticultural, films/compost bags, health & beauty, electronics/business equipment, and plastic card markets.

This talk will introduce the unique properties for agriculture and horticultural applications, present a sustainable solution for the environmentally-conscious end-user, and review Mirel’s biodegradability in soil, cold composting and marine environments yet it maintains still- water resistance. Mr. Kelly will also update progress in the development and commercialization of Mirel biobased plastics. He will discuss performance capabilities, describe target applications in agriculture, horticulture, construction and marine applications, as well as explain the various environmental benefits for transitioning from traditional plastics to biobased plastics.

Mirel is marketed and sold through Telles, a joint venture between Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). ADM has begun construction of the world’s first Mirel resin plant located in Clinton, Iowa. This new facility will produce 110 million pounds of Mirel per year with start up scheduled for late 2008. www.mirelplastics.com

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