Materials science PLA – everything worth knowing about the bioplastic
Materials science PLA – everything worth knowing about the bioplastic
For many years, PLA has been an indispensable part of the sustainable series of catering accessories and packaging materials, and this is for a good reason. The material is made of renewable raw materials instead of fossil, so it can be composted according to DIN EN 13432. This makes it one of the so-called bioplastics. PLA stands for Polylactic Acid, which means polylactic acid in German. It is also called polylactic acid. We have outlined how the production works, the PLA products we offer, and other things that need to be considered in this material science.
PLA and CPLA: Manufacturing and Differences
How to produce plastic sustainably? The answer is: made from corn, potatoes or beets. These plants contain a lot of starch (glucose), which is necessary for lactic acid production and is therefore extracted from plants. These, in turn, are fermented by microorganisms into lactic acid, and the resulting lactic acid is further transformed into particles through a polymerization process. Then it serves as the basis of plastic.
If talc (20 to 30%) is added to lactic acid during the manufacturing process, the lactic acid will crystallize. The result is crystalline polylactic acid, called CPLA. Compared to PLA, this variant is opaque. Furthermore, CPLA is harder and more heat resistant than PLA, which means that the two bioplastics have particularly different applications. Pre-made moulds can be used to pour CPLA granules into products such as tableware. We collected more about the application areas of PLA and modified CPLA variants in the “Features and Application Areas” section.
That’s why PLA convinces as a sustainable alternative.
Bioplastics are available in large quantities. In this way, high demand can be reliably met, while the production resources of traditional plastics are limited. This material belongs to the polyester series and has been carbon dioxide efficient from the beginning. Compared with other plastics, only a small amount of carbon dioxide is emitted here. Due to their compostability, PLA materials are also convincing in terms of recycling.
How is the bioplastic disposed of? Is the material biodegradable?
According to DIN EN 13432, PLA is compostable. This means that products made from bioplastics have decomposed to such an extent in three months under certain conditions of temperature, oxygen and humidity that when sieved through a very fine sieve, the remaining material does not exceed 10%. Because these requirements are very special, plastic substitutes cannot be broken down in household compost. Even in large composting plants, this contaminant-free treatment is often not economically feasible because the remaining organic waste decomposes faster.
Therefore, incineration is often used as a disposal option. At first glance, this sounds overwhelming, but the combustion products emit only the amount of CO 2 that the (corn) plants previously absorbed from the environment. Therefore, greenhouse gas emissions remain neutral. This means that PLA is still better than traditional plastics. Until now, the use of PLA is still too small to be worth recycling. But the research shows how feasible recycling is and points to a greener future for PLA.
Properties and areas of application – this is how you can benefit from the bioplastic!
Although PLA is transparent and CPLA is opaque, both materials are impressive in their high strength and stability. Because it is permeable to water vapour, the food flavour in PLA packaging lasts longer. CPLA is even heat resistant up to 85°C, which is a decisive advantage, especially for hot food and hot drinks.
Therefore, these two stable plant-based bioplastics are particularly suitable for the food industry. Whether it is tableware, straws or part of a cake box, you can use the advantages of bioplastics to serve your catering and provide guests with CPLA or PLA knives, forks, spoons and straws. These products are especially popular at large company events or official celebrations. But bakeries and cafes can also use them for Togolese businesses. The cake and cake inlet trays are especially elegantly packaged and presented, and the transparent PLA window reveals the prospect of delicious delicacies. Due to the mentioned properties, the material can be used in many ways. The robust team of
PLA, Eco-Friendly Packaging and you – a strong trio
Products made with PLA and CPLA are the best substitutes for products made with traditional plastics in the food industry. It is hoped that further research on bioplastics will allow more functional recycling cycles. The more research, testing, and development performed, the more sustainable the recycling or degradation of materials in the future. In this way, we can look forward to the future of sustainable packaging together.
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