2.4.0.81020 - Disclosure - ACCOUNTING POLICIEStruefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001121702duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0ACCOUNTING POLICIES2false 2us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> 2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES   There have been no material changes in accounting policies since the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, as described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended.   Principles of Consolidation   The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including the accounts of the Company’s newly established German subsidiary, Metabolix GmbH.   All significant intercompany transactions were eliminated. Telles, LLC (“Telles”), the Company’s former joint venture with Archer Daniels Midland Company (“ADM”) that terminated in early 2012, was not consolidated by the Company.   Use of Estimates   The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.   Concentration of Credit Risk   Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. The Company primarily invests its excess cash and cash equivalents in money market funds, corporate debt, federal agency notes and U.S. treasury notes. Investments are acquired in accordance with the Company’s investment policy which establishes a concentration limit per issuer.   The Company provides credit to customers in the normal course of business. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and limits the amount of credit extended when deemed necessary. At June 30, 2013, the Company’s accounts and unbilled receivables include $724 or 63% from U.S. and Canadian government grants and $315 or 27% from customer product sales. At December 31, 2012, the Company’s accounts and unbilled receivables included $561 or 46% from U.S. and Canadian government grants and $535 or 44% from customer product sales. At June 30, 2013, no customer had accounts receivable due from product sales of 10% or greater, and December 31, 2012, one customer represented 41%, of accounts receivable due from product sales.   </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18726-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18861-107790 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18743-107790 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18854-107790 false0ACCOUNTING POLICIESfalseACCOUNTING POLICIESUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.metabolix.com/role/DisclosureAccountingPolicies12