ADM, Metabolix JV, Telles, to launch compostable bag product line made from blend with Mirel bioplastics; Italy-based JV to partner with flexible film, packaging and bag maker Andolfi to introduce bags for retail shops, supermarkets

Alison Gallant

BOLOGNA, Italy , October 24, 2011 (press release) – Telles, a joint venture between Metabolix, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLX - News) and Archer Daniels Midland Company, today announced that Andolfi & C., an innovative blown-film converter headquartered in Sant'Elpidio a Mare, Marche region, Italy, will be launching a compostable bag product line based on Mvera™ B5002, a compostable film product made from a proprietary blend with Mirel™ bioplastics.

Andolfi is working closely with Telles to introduce a new series of compostable bags for retail shops and supermarkets, and for use in organic waste collection. Mvera B5002 is Vinçotte certified to meet EN 13432 for compostable plastics.

“Mvera B5002 shows good mechanical properties in terms of strength, seam welding, tear resistance and rapid compostability. The material is also less moisture sensitive than competing products,” said Alessandro Andolfi, president and CEO of Andolfi. “With the rising demand for compostable materials in Europe, Mvera B5002 enables us to meet our retail customers’ demands for durable compost bags that also have high-quality printing capabilities to support their brands.”

Recent legislation in Italy banning single-use plastic bags is driving change in Europe towards renewable solutions, rapidly increasing demand for compostable or reusable bags. An estimated 20 billion plastic bags per year are consumed in Italy, an average of about 400 plastic bags per person.

About Andolfi & C.

Andolfi, founded in 1961, is developing innovative flexible films, packaging, and bags for prestige market boutiques, high-end retailers, and multilayer films for food and non-food applications. The Company’s technology includes five departments (extrusion, packaging, printing, laminating, recycling), manufacturing flexibility, and a skilled technical team allow Andolfi to service the diverse needs of its qualified customers globally. ISO 9002:2004 Certified. www.andolfi.it

About Mirel Bioplastics

Mirel is a family of bioplastic materials that have physical properties comparable to petroleum-based resins, yet are biobased and biodegradable in natural soil and water environments, in home composting systems, and in industrial composting facilities where such facilities are available. The rate and extent of Mirel’s biodegradability will depend on the size and shape of the articles made from it. However, like nearly all bioplastics and organic matter, Mirel is not designed to biodegrade in conventional landfills.

Commercial grades of Mirel are available for injection molding, thermoforming, sheet extrusion and film applications. For more information, please visit www.mirel.com.

About Metabolix

Founded in 1992, Metabolix, Inc. is an innovation-driven bioscience company focused on providing sustainable solutions for the world’s needs for plastics, chemicals and energy. The Company is taking a systems approach, from gene to end product, integrating sophisticated biotechnology with advanced industrial practice. Metabolix is now developing and commercializing Mirel™, a family of high performance bioplastics which are biobased and biodegradable alternatives to many petroleum-based plastics, through Telles, a joint venture between Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland Company. Metabolix is also developing biosourced industrial chemicals and a proprietary platform technology for co-producing plastics, chemicals and energy, from crops such as switchgrass, oilseeds and sugarcane.

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