Speakers representing more than 50 companies, including thought leaders from such organizations as 3M, Unilever, Danone, Lego, Kimberly-Clark, Kodak, the U.S. Green Building Council, the Green Sports Alliance, GreenBlue, and European Bioplastics will headline NatureWorks’ international Ingeo biopolymers conference, Innovation Takes Root 2014, Feb. 17-19 in Orlando, Fla.

Internationally recognized innovation consultant and futurist, Jim Carroll, will open the conference. Carroll has a track record of providing unique guidance on cutting edge trends and identifying opportunities for innovation to some of the most prestigious organizations in the world. He was named by Business Week as one of four leading sources for insight into creativity and innovation.

Ingeo performance resins, made from plants not oil, are used in thousands of consumer and industrial products – everything from compostable cold-drink and coffee cups to computers and printers.

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing with Ingeo PLA, one of the fastest growing markets for this biopolymer, will be highlighted at the conference by Stratasys, one of the industry’s leading manufacturers of 3D printers and 3D production systems for rapid prototyping and direct digital manufacturing. Six tailored breakout sessions will share the latest in biobased innovations, from raw material to retailer, across a breadth of markets:

- New frontiers in fibers and nonwovens
- New markets – 3D printing and beyond
- Expanding durable applications with Ingeo compounds
- Performance advances in flexible packaging
- Venue cost savings with Ingeo food serviceware
- Expanding the focus in rigid packaging

Plenary sessions

Following Carroll’s presentation on Feb. 18th, the plenary session continues with an exploration of the evolution of bioplastics from niche to mainstream material. On Feb. 19th, the plenary session will cover the European perspective on bioplastics. Preceding Jim Carrol's keynote presentation a series of workshops will be offered on Feb. 17th.

Described by NatureWorks as a collaborative user forum for the global Ingeo community, the 2012 conference attracted 330 attendees, representing 177 companies and 25 countries. A similarly full spectrum of the plastics industry is expected at the 2014 forum, including brand owners, manufacturers, converters, and equipment, additives and blends suppliers.

“Innovation Takes Root is like no other conference because all the attendees and the sessions focus on a single, broadly applied performance bio material,” said NatureWorks President and CEO Marc Verbruggen. “This shared interest generates excitement and lively discussions all throughout the conference hall.”

About NatureWorks

NatureWorks LLC is a company dedicated to meeting the world’s needs today without compromising the earth’s ability to meet the needs of tomorrow. NatureWorks LLC is the first company to offer a family of commercially available, low-carbon-footprint Ingeo lactides and biopolymers derived from 100-percent annually renewable resources with performance and economics that compete with oil-based intermediates, plastics, and fibers, and provide brand owners new cradle-to-cradle options after the use of their products.