PLA

PLA is 100% bio-based and is made from corn sugars and starches. First, the corn is milled, and the sugars are fermented to form lactic acid. The lactic acid is then polymerised (a process that involves reacting molecules together in a chemical reaction) to create pellets of PLA – aka Poly Lactic Acid. These PLA pellets are sent to factories around the globe to be turned into the sustainable packaging products many companies are opting to use these days, and for several important reasons. For starters, PLA is sturdy, food-safe, completely industrially compostable, and serves the aesthetic of those looking for transparent packaging. The only limitation PLA has, is that it’s best used for cold food and beverages as it is not heat resistant.

Some of PLA’s big sustainable wins:

• Made from sustainable natural materials
• Sustainable production that results in a 75% reduction in CO 2 emissions in comparison with oil plastic production
• Certified compostable (according to EN-13432) because of its ability to degrade to at least 90%, within 90 days, in an industrial composting facility.

CPLA, a heat-resistant version of PLA, is also made from corn sugars and starches. The key difference to PLA, is that with CPLA, talc is added to the production process, causing the PLA pellets to crystallise to create Crystalised Poly Lactic Acid. The result is a fully compostable, heat-resistant (up to 85°C) bioplastic consisting of around 70 to 80% PLA and 20 – 30% talc.

How to correctly dispose of our PLA products

While composting, the PLA material will decompose and leave only carbon (CO2), water (H20) and biomass. Interestingly, the CO2 released during the PLA decomposition process is the exact amount that the original plant material absorbs during growth. At the end of the process, the compost can be used to add nutrients to soil or as an organic fertiliser.

An alternative option is to decompose PLA products using anaerobic digestion. In this process, biogas is created.