That a heavyweight like Cargill Dow is convinced it can beat conventional plastics on cost and performance alone may be the best reason to think that biopolymers are about to burst out of their mouldy, green niche.

ECONOMIST: Evanescent or evergreen?

Basic Plastics is the largest, responsible for 22.5% of sales, followed by Performance Products (20.9%), Performance Systems (12.4%), Health and Agricultural Sciences (10.2%), Hydrocarbons and Energy (9.6%), Electronic and Specialty Chemicals (9.4%), Coatings and Infrastructure (8.9%), and Basic Chemicals (5.3%).

FORBES: Time To Take A Chance On Dow