NatureWorks, the main producer of polylactic acid (PLA) for packaging, has vowed to work with the industry to tackle concerns over the material's end of life, following Innocent Drinks' decision to stop using the material.

Eamonn Tighe, US-based NatureWorks' business development manager for the UK, told Packaging News the industry needed to have a "mature discussion" about biopolymers, but stressed the materials were only used in a very small amount of packaging at this stage.

Tighe said he "understood" why Innocent had decided to stop using the material, which is derived from corn starch, does not use any waste content and composts in industrial facilities.

Earlier this week, Innocent said it was focusing instead on 100% recycled plastic bottles, as PLA does not use recycled materials, and because commercial composting was "not yet a mainstream option" in the UK.

Tighe said NatureWorks was "not running headlong into this; we are validating and will work with the supply chain and organisations to be proactive."

The "much bigger issue" was how the UK managed mixed plastics recycling, said Tighe.

"PLA can be recycled, but the infrastructure isn't there, and it isn't there for a number of other plastics either," he added.

Despite the concerns over PLA, Marks & Spencer is to continue using the material as part of plans to switch all its packaging to recyclable or compostable materials by 2012.

A spokeswoman said M&S had sold 132 million units packed in PLA in the 2005-06 financial year. Products included bowls for deli salads, pots for chocolate mousse desserts and punnets for fresh produce.

M&S said it would also include end-of-life labelling for PLA based on standards being developed by retailers, the British Retail Consortium and the Waste & Resources Action Programme.

Yorkshire sausage producer Debbie & Andrew's, which planned to be the first firm to launch a sausage tray made from PLA, said it had "hit some hurdles".

Director Andrew Keeble said the firm had completed tooling and rigorous testing of the material and was ready to launch the tray this month, but "scaremongering in the industry" about PLA had delayed introduction.

"We think PLA is the best biopolymer for our tray because it looks like a normal tray that consumers are used to. M&S is backing it and we are 100% behind it. We're now looking at launching in the new year," he said.

Packaging and Films Association chief executive David Tyson said a main benefit for retailers using PLA was in tackling food waste in-store.

"Retailers have quite considerable food waste at their stores," he said. "In the past, they would have had to strip off conventional plastics from food, but with PLA they can throw the whole lot in industrial composting."

Tyson also thought new materials, such as PLA, were likely to find a "niche area" but would "never largely replace conventional plastics".

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has formed a specialist group for firms with an interest in biodegradable plastics to clear up issues and confusion about the recyclability, disposal and labelling of these materials. It will hold its first meeting in the first quarter of 2008.