Corn-based biodegradable film shown to help fresh foods last longer Prof. Mary Chan (left) and Dr. Suresh Kumar Raman Pillai, with samples of the antibacterial film Nanyang Technological University ...

It isn't cheap, though. The bio film costs an extra $180 per acre. Drenth said there are always risks in trying new systems, but sometimes the potential gains outweigh those risks.

Commodities like glass, styrene, and corn starch show the rebound remains sluggish, per Bloomberg data. Trucked LNG prices have dropped to their lowest level in nearly two years as demand falters.

Starch-based polymers have emerged as a sustainable alternative in textile applications, particularly in warp sizing where adhesion and film properties are of paramount importance.