Rules and Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act

AGENCY:

Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) solicits comments as to whether to amend Rule 7 of the Rules and Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (“Textile Rules,” 16 CFR 303.7) to designate a new generic fiber name and establish a new generic fiber definition for a fiber manufactured by Cargill Dow, LLC (“Cargill Dow”), of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Cargill Dow suggested the name “synterra” for the fiber, which it described as polylactic acid or polylactide, and referred to as “PLA.”

DATES:

Comments will be accepted through January 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be submitted to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room 159, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20580. Comments should be identified as “16 CFR Part 303—Textile Rule 8 Comment—P948404.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James G. Mills, Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; (202) 326-3035, FAX: (202) 326-2190, <<jmills@ftc.gov>>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Rule 6 of the Textile Rules (16 CFR 303.6) requires manufacturers to use the generic names of the fibers contained in their textile fiber products in making required fiber content on labels. Rule 7 (16 CFR 303.7) sets forth the generic names and definitions that the Commission has established for synthetic fibers. Rule 8 (16 CFR 303.8) describes the procedures for establishing new generic names.

Cargill Dow applied to the Commission on August 28, 2000 for a new fiber name and definition. It stated that PLA fibers are synthetic but are derived from natural renewable resources (agricultural crops such as corn). It maintained that PLA can combine certain advantages of natural fibers with those of certain synthetic fibers. Cargill Dow said that, although it does not itself currently produce products made from Natureworks^TM PLA fiber (the PLA fiber it currently manufactures), it does contract with others for the production of the fiber and sells the fiber to end users. Cargill Dow contended that its proprietary Natureworks^TM PLA fiber, and PLA that may be made using alternative processes, have unique properties that, along with PLA's unique fundamental chemistry, differentiate PLA fibers from all other recognized and listed synthetic or natural fibers.

Cargill Dow explained that PLA's fundamental polymer chemistry allows control of certain fiber properties and makes the fiber suitable for a wide variety of technical textile fiber applications, especially apparel and performance apparel applications. Of most significance to consumers, Cargill Dow maintained, is that PLA fibers exhibit: (1) Low moisture absorption and high wicking, offering benefits for sports and performance apparel and products; (2) low flammability and smoke generation; (3) high resistance to ultra violet (UV) light, a benefit for performance apparel as well as outdoor furniture and furnishings applications; (4) a low index of refraction, which provides excellent color characteristics; and, (5) lower specific gravity, making PLA lighter in weight than other fibers. In addition to coming from an annually renewable resource base, it stated, PLA fibers are readily melt-spun, offering manufacturing advantages that will result in greater consumer choice.

Contending that the unique chemistry of fibers made from PLA is inadequately described under existing generic names listed in 16 CFR Part 303.7, Cargill Dow petitioned the Commission to establish the generic name “synterra.” After an initial analysis, the Commission announced, on October 30, 2000, that it had issued Cargill Dow the designation “CD 0001” for temporary use in identifying PLA fiber pending a final determination as to the merits of the application for a new generic name and definition. A final determination will be based on whether the record in this proceeding indicates that Cargill Dow meets the Commission's criteria for issuing new fiber names and definitions, as described in Part II, below.

II. Invitation To Comment

The Commission is soliciting comment on Cargill Dow's application generally, and on whether the application meets the Commission's criteria for granting applications for new generic names.

First Criterion: The fiber for which a generic name is requested must have a chemical composition radically different from other fibers, and that distinctive chemical composition must result in distinctive physical properties of significance to the general public.

Second Criterion: The fiber must be in active commercial use or such use must be immediately foreseen.

Third Criterion: The granting of the generic name must be of importance to the consuming public at large, rather than to a small group of knowledgeable professionals such as purchasing officers for large Government agencies.

The Commission notes that the repeat units of PLA are linked by ester groups, which means that PLA fiber is a polyester. The Commission agrees with the petitioner, however, that PLA fiber does not fit into the current definition for polyester in Rule 7. The Commission is considering three approaches to resolve this situation, and requests comment from the public on the relative merits of each:

1. Amend the Rule to broaden the current definition for polyester in section 7(c) of the Rule to include PLA fiber;

2. Amend the current definition for polyester in section 7(c) of the Rule by creating a separate subcategory and definition for PLA fiber within the polyester category; or,

3. Amend the Rule to create a new, separate category in Rule 7 for PLA fiber.

Before deciding whether to amend Rule 7, the Commission will consider any comments submitted to the Secretary of the Commission within the above-mentioned comment period.

III. Cargill Dow's Petition

A. Chemical Composition and Physical and Chemical Properties of PLA Fiber

In its petition, Cargill Dow described in detail the fiber PLA. The following description from the petition is substantially verbatim:

1. Synterra fibers are typically made using lactic acid as the starting material for polymer manufacture. This is unique in that lactic acid comes from fermenting various sources of natural sugars. These sugars can come from a variety of annually renewable agricultural crops such as corn or sugar beets.

2. PLA used to make the fiber can be polylactic acid or polylactide. Although the lactide intermediate route, used by Cargill Dow, has proven most effective, direct condensation of lactic acid will also result in PLA. The latter route, however, results in a lower molecular weight polymer. Both routes allow for the development of PLA fibers that offer advantages to consumers explained more fully below (although the process used by CDP usually does so more readily), and are shown below:

3. PLA is also unique in that the lactic acid monomer exists in two optically active forms. Use of the lactide intermediate route results in three different lactide forms. These forms include D-lactide, L-lactide, or meso-lactide:

4. These different monomers, when polymerized, dictate the crystalline nature of the polymer. By controlling the ratio of D units in the polymer through polymerizing more D-lactide or meso-lactide, the amount of crystallinity the polymer is capable of being varied from a very high amount to none. As would be expected, this results in polymers with distinctly different properties. By controlling the level of the “D” units in the polymer chain, the resulting polymer and fiber melt temperature can be varied in the semi-crystalline polymers. For instance, the following graph gives the fiber peak crystalline melt temperatures for a range of different percent D polymers that were mechanically spun and drawn.

5. As a naturally-derived but synthetic product, synterra fibers exhibit properties some of which are similar to and some of which are different from many of the fibers commercially available today, including the various types of polyesters, nylons, acrylics and naturally occurring fibers such as cotton, wool, silk and rayon. See the table below, which compares several properties of fibers and fabrics against PLA. Importantly, the unique chemistry of PLA results in physical property differences such that existing fiber definitions do not fully or exactly describe PLA. Of likely significance to consumers is that PLA fibers are derived from a fully renewable natural resource, but offer many key advantages of synthetic fabrics as well.

For consumers, the interaction of PLA with water, including moisture regain, wicking and contact angle, another measure of interaction with moisture, is likely to be significant. PLA exhibits low moisture absorption (0.4-0.6% moisture regain), similar to polyester, but lower than nylon, acrylic and natural fibers. At the same time, the rate of wicking is higher than other fibers like PET, with a Lucas-Washburn slope of 6.3-7.5 for PLA, versus 0.7-0.8 for PET.

For applications in apparel, but especially in furnishings, PLA's favorable combustion characteristics, including low smoke generation and LOI attributes, offer advantages to consumers. PLA polymer is an aliphatic chain, and thus burns cleanly, with only a small amount of faint, white smoke, as testing on PLA fibers demonstrates, per the table above. This means that in applications where especially stringent fire performance characteristics are required (necessitating fire retardant treatment even with PLA), reduced amounts of fire retardants will likely be needed relative to other fibers. This is an added environmental benefit.

Also, the unique modulus of PLA fiber allows fabrics to be made which are stiffer and more shape retaining than nylon, but softer, with better drape and hand than polyester. Furthermore, Natureworks^TM PLA fibers exhibit a unique index of refraction, which may allow very lustrous fabrics to be made and dyed with very deep color. Excellent resistance to UV light is another significant differentiating property, as is elastic recovery, which is considerably higher than most other fibers.

6. PLA can be processed on conventional fiber equipment. PLA fibers have been manufactured and used in continuous filament, staple, and several nonwoven processes, as well as via new technologies such as high speed spinning and microdenier fibers. High speed spinning can be used to produce lower denier fibers and to produce more fiber per unit time, increasing productivity, which should ultimately offer economic benefits to consumers. Lower deniers and microdenier technologies have been increasing in apparel markets to give better hand and softer feel. Because of the unique properties of fibers made from Natureworks^TM PLA, these fibers can and are being used in a broad range of applications. Sports and performance apparel, fashion apparel and general apparel, technical textiles, along with nonwovens are applications that best utilize the unique properties described above.

Cargill Dow also provided additional information about the launderability and drycleanability of PLA fiber, which appears in detail on the public record, relevant parts of which appear substantially verbatim as follows:

To verify that the initial dimensional change was due to not being heat set, Cargill Dow repeated the testing with an interlocking knit fabric, made from Flat Drawn Yarn which was heat set and dyed, prior to testing. Results were as contained in the figure, below:

The results suggest that fabrics made with fibers from PLA are very stable to laundering and drycleaning. The fabrics exhibited very little shrinkage during cleaning, since they were thermally stable prior to testing.

In addition to suggesting the generic name “synterra,” Cargill Down proposed the following definition for PLA fiber.

synterra: A manufactured fiber in which the polymer is produced either (a) by the condensation of lactic acid or (b) by ring opening of the cyclic dimer, lactide, in both cases where at least 85% of the primary component is derived from a renewable resource as an integral part of the polymer chain.

B. Commercial Uses of PLA

Addressing the extent to which its fiber has been put into active commercial use, Cargill Dow stated in its petition:

Fibers produced from Natureworks^TM PLA have been made * * * into finished goods that are ready to commercialize, and several are in test markets. Cargill Dow is in the process of building a second polymer plant in Blair, Nebraska, capable of producing 140,000 Metric Tons, or approximately 30,000,000 pounds per year of PLA polymer. Cargill Dow has customer commitments in fiber applications to purchase or use a significant portion of this polymer capacity, and anticipates that 50% or more of the plant's capacity to be sold as fiber-grade polymer. This plant is under construction and is expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2001.

C. Importance of New Generic Name to the Public

Cargill Dow argued that granting the petition would facilitate the use of this fiber in commercial consumer applications. It also stated that a new generic term (like synterra) would help consumers identify products made from PLA. Thus, Cargill Dow maintained that a new generic name would be important to the public at large, not just knowledgeable professionals.

IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act relating to an initial regulatory analysis (5 U.S.C. 603-604) are not applicable to this proposal because the Commission believes that the amendment, if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Commission has tentatively reached this conclusion will respect to the proposed amendment because the amendment would impose no additional obligations, penalties or costs. Ten amendments simply would allow covered companies to use a new generic name for a new fiber that may not appropriately fit within current names and definitions. The amendment would impose no additional labeling requirements.

To ensure that no substantial economic impact is being overlooked, however, the Commission requests public comment on the effect of the proposed amendment on costs, profits, and competitiveness of, and employment in, small entities. After receiving public comment, the Commission will decide whether preparation of a final regulatory flexibility analysis is warranted. Accordingly, based on available information, the Commission certifies, pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), that the proposed amendment, if promulgated, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

V. Paperwork Reduction Act

This proposed amendment does not constitute a “collection of information” under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PL 104-13, 109 Stat. 163) and its implementing regulations. (5 CFR 1320 et seq.) The collection of information imposed by the procedures for establishing generic names (16 CFR 303.8) has been submitted to OMB and has been assigned control number 3084-0101.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 303

• Labeling
• Textile
• Trade practices

Authority: Sec. 7(c) of the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (15 U.S.C. 70e(c)).