Homegrown Illinois corn is a sustainable crop that supports farm families, local communities, and Illinois’ economy.
Plentiful and powerful, corn is a 10,000+ year-old grain providing solutions to today’s big environmental challenges. From a better plastic option to renewable fuel to mitigating climate change, come explore the role we can all play in creating a future that’s better for our planet and better for us all.
Alexis Hartman
I’m looking for ways to reduce my own environmental footprint and eliminating single-use plastics is just one way of doing that. Bioplastics made from plants can be an alternative to traditional plastic, and I feel good about plant-based plastics that are made from crops grown right here in Illinois. Do the research and make a choice that works for you.
Waterloo, IL
Your everyday essentials could be made with corn
As consumer concern about plastic pollution grows, 1 in 3 adults say they have reduced their use of plastic products over the past five years.
An alternative to traditional plastic made from petroleum is corn-based bioplastic.
Marty Marr
We’re all feeling the pressure of inflation. The good news is, we have an immediate savings option at the pump with UNLEADED 88 or E15. This fuel type contains 15% ethanol, which means it’s also a renewable energy source grown by corn farmers like me.
Jacksonville, IL
Fill up confidently with UNLEADED 88
Gas pumps aren’t unlike grocery stores, offering an abundance of choices – some of which you may not really understand. So, we tend to go with what we know and opt for “regular” gas out of habit. Check out the comparison below to see the differences in fuel today.
Elliott Uphoff
Farmers want clean air just like everybody else. We can grow biofuels that help clean the air and save the environment, right here in Illinois.
Shelbyville, IL
Krista Swanson
If one of our kids was really into computers, they might be the most valuable person on our farm 20 years from now. Technology is already playing an incredible role on the farm, not only in creating more efficiencies but also in how we protect and nurture the land while reducing our impact on the environment.
Oneida, IL
The economics behind Illinois corn
96% of Illinois farms remain family-owned and operated. Their dedication to continuous improvement is in part why Illinois is #1 in the nation for corn economic output.
The state’s annual corn crop provides more than $148 billion in annual economic value to Illinois.
Corn can be found in practically every Illinois home as our favorite foods, other household products, and now bioplastics.
See how this ancient grain that’s been grown for more than 1,000 years is now used in an innovative way.
Filling up on fuel made from corn
Almost all unleaded or “regular” fuel today is blended with 10% corn-based ethanol. Unleaded 88 (which you might see labeled as Unleaded 15 or E15) is fuel that contains up to 15% ethanol, burns cleaner and is safe for vehicles 2001 or newer.
Let’s clear up any confusion about corn used as fuel for ethanol and how to choose it at the pump.
E10 (UNLEADED 87) = 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline
- A little more expensive than E15
- All vehicles can run on E10
- Nearly all U.S. gas today contains at least 10% ethanol, reducing GHG emissions that equates to taking 20M cars off the road annually
E15 (UNLEADED 88 or UNLEADED 15) = 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline
- Usually less expensive than E10
- Safe for all vehicles 2001 or newer
- Burns cleaner and is better for your engine – higher octane boosts engine efficiency
E85 (Flex Fuel) = 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
- Usually the cheapest fuel option; high-performance fuel with an octane rating ranging from 100-105
- Only used in Flex Fuel Vehicles – to see if you own a FFV look for a yellow gas cap or ring, or E85 listed on the inside of your fuel filler door
- Corn-based ethanol used in E85 results in much less GHG emissions than the same amount of gasoline
“In Chicago and even in our rural areas, 40%-70% of our air pollution problems are from mobile transportation. We need to choose a fuel that’s a good clean-air choice.”
- Angela Tin, VP of Environmental Health, American Lung Association, Upper Midwest
Ethanol helps reduce our GHG emissions. And reduced emissions mean fewer health issues, like cases of respiratory illnesses, asthma, heart disease, lung disease, cancer and even fewer premature deaths. Plus, ethanol helps lower gas prices by expanding supplies and reducing the need for imports.
Reference: https://ethanolrfa.org/consumers
Catalysts for climate change solutions
We respect how the choices we make to keep our farms sustainable impact the future of our planet. So it’s not very surprising to find that on farms across the state, those growing corn for food, fuel and other essentials are proudly working, from the ground up, to be part of our climate change solutions.
