Acquisition of PLA Supply Co., Omaha, NE, by Naturally Iowa, Inc., Clarinda, IA, enters final stages, extends dairy’s vertical integration in self-manufacture of polylactic acid (PLA) containers to resin stage.

Deal also opens door to new business as supplier of PLA containers, preforms, blowmolding equipment, self-manufacturing consulting services. “Naturally Iowa is now the beneficiary of thousands of hours of research and development performed by PLA Supply Co., which allows us to take the corn starch resin from resin to fully IMS Approved bottle, allowing Naturally Iowa to be a worldwide leader in renewable packaging for dairy,” says William Horner, president/ceo of Naturally Iowa, adding, “We believe that this is an enormous potential revenue source for the company, given the growing consumer interest in sustainable packaging.”

With acquisition, Naturally Iowa acquires all rights to PLA Supply’s contract with PLA resin producer Natureworks LLC, Minnetonka, MN, dedicated factory space in Waverly, NE, for production of PLA preforms, plus long-term contractual relationship with Norland Int’l, Lincoln, NE, to supply PLA bottle-blowing equipment to other beverage producers.