In the fight against plastic pollution and towards a sustainable world, PLA (Polylactic Acid) plastic is increasingly popular, contributing to minimizing the impact of traditional plastics on the environment. In this article, EQUO will explore with you a comprehensive view of PLA plastic - an important source of biological materials yet not the best solutions for traditional plastics.
1. Overview of PLA plastic
PLA plastic is increasingly asserting its position in the battle against climate change and environmental protection. Produced from renewable materials, PLA is believed to have the potential to replace traditional plastics, contributing to minimizing adverse impacts on ecosystems. However, research on the life cycle of PLA reveals points contrary to its initial purpose.
1.1. What is PLA plastic?
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a type of bioplastic produced from renewable materials such as corn starch, cassava, sugarcane, etc. Thanks to its natural origin, PLA is completely biodegradable under cold conditions. under suitable conditions, produces CO2 and water, and does not harm the environment.
Source: Internet
1.2. Physical properties of PLA plastic
PLA plastic is a bioplastic with many physical properties suitable for many different applications:
- Durability: PLA plastic has high mechanical strength, equivalent to traditional plastics such as PS and PP.
- Toughness: PLA has good toughness, and is less susceptible to cracking when impacted.
- Heat resistance: PLA has good heat resistance, and can be used at temperatures from 0°C to 60°C.
- 3D printing ability: PLA is the most popular 3D printing material today due to its ease of use and safety for health.
- Biodegradability: PLA is completely biodegradable under appropriate conditions, produces CO2 and water, and is not harmful to the environment.
Source: Internet
PLA bioplastic has many outstanding advantages compared to traditional plastics, is produced from renewable materials, is completely biodegradable, and contributes to environmental protection and combating climate change.
2. Advantages and disadvantages of PLA plastic
PLA plastic is increasingly widely used because of its advantages of being environmentally friendly and safe for health. However, besides the advantages, PLA plastic also has some disadvantages that need to be considered before use.
2.1. Advantages
PLA plastic is produced from renewable materials such as corn starch, cassava, sugarcane, potato starch, etc. Thanks to that, PLA possesses many outstanding advantages compared to traditional plastics:
- Environmentally friendly: The production and use process of PLA does not emit toxic substances, contributing to protecting the living environment.
- Safe for health: PLA plastic does not contain BPA and other toxic substances, safe for direct contact with food. Therefore, PLA is widely used for products such as cups, mugs, food containers, etc.
- Biodegradability: PLA can spontaneously decompose into organic compounds under appropriate conditions, without polluting the environment. The decomposition process happens quickly, in just a few months or years, in contrast to the hundreds of years of traditional plastics.
2.2. Disadvantages
Besides the outstanding advantages, PLA biodegradable plastic still has some disadvantages to note:
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In addition to its prominent advantages, the biodegradable PLA plastic still has some noteworthy drawbacks:
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Resource consumption: The production of PLA heavily relies on agricultural crops such as corn, cassava, sugarcane, or sugar beets. These are primary food sources that are now being diverted for the production of single-use products. Furthermore, production facilities often need to be located near agricultural areas to optimize transportation costs.
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Difficult to recycle: Mixing PLA with traditional recycled materials can compromise the quality of the recycled product.
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Challenging production: Currently, there are only a few PLA production plants worldwide, leading to insufficient supply. Moreover, PLA production requires advanced technology and substantial investment, resulting in higher product costs compared to traditional plastics (PA, PE, PP, etc.).
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Limited natural decomposition: Despite being plant-based and marketed as having biodegradable properties, PLA can only decompose in industrial composting facilities. The conditions for PLA to break down in these facilities are complex and require strict processes. Concerningly, globally, there are very few (less than 1%) composting facilities equipped with the necessary procedures and infrastructure to handle bioplastics like PLA.
This leads to a significant amount of PLA being released into the environment daily. However, when outside of industrial composting conditions, PLA has similar environmental impacts as conventional plastics. It takes 80 to 200 years for PLA to decompose, during which it releases harmful chemicals such as methane and microplastics, posing a serious threat to the environment and ecosystems.
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PLA plastic is a potential material with many applications in life. However, to effectively use this material, it is necessary to carefully consider its advantages and disadvantages. Research and development of innovative PLA plastics will contribute to expanding the application of this material in the future.
3. How is PLA plastic produced?
PLA plastic is produced from renewable materials such as corn starch, sugarcane, cassava, potatoes, etc. It begins with a fermentation process to convert the materials into simple sugars (glucose), then ferments the glucose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is purified and dehydrated to form lactide, which is heated and catalyzed to form PLA polymer. PLA is then added with additives to improve properties and form fibers, granules, sheets, etc. to be used for different purposes.
Note: The PLA production process may use different enzymes and chemicals depending on the manufacturer, and PLA may be blended with other plastics to improve properties or reduce costs.
Source: Internet
4. Applications of PLA plastic in life
PLA plastic is increasingly widely used in many different fields because of its outstanding advantages of environmental friendliness and biodegradability. Below are some typical applications of PLA plastic in life:
4.1. Production of food packaging
PLA plastic is used to produce various types of food packaging such as food trays, lunch boxes, cups, spoons, forks, and bags. Thanks to its health safety and biodegradable properties, PLA is a perfect alternative to single-use traditional plastic packaging, contributing to reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment.
However, PLA can only decompose in industrial processing facilities, and unfortunately, there are very few such facilities worldwide. This invisibly results in a significant portion of these single-use PLA plastic products being released into the environment, causing harm to ecosystems.
Fortunately, EQUO has discovered and proudly offers customers products sourced from natural materials such as coffee grounds, sugarcane bagasse, coconut and grass, completely free of traditional plastic or PLA. These products can decompose 100% in the natural environment.
- Natural compostable straw set: Made from coffee, bagasse, coconut, grass, and rice, safe for health, and completely compostable in the natural environment.
- Food containers: Made from sugarcane bagasse, which is a sustainable natural resource that is renewable and decomposes quickly. The outstanding characteristics of bagasse fiber lie in its durability, flexibility in packaging, and breathable and waterproof qualities.
- Utensils: This is a great choice for eco-friendly and durable tableware sets.
Let's join hands with EQUO to use environmentally friendly products. For more information about EQUO product lines, please visit the following link:
>> https://shopequo.com/collections
4.2. Manufacture of medical equipment
It can be said that PLA is a new step forward in the medical industry used to produce several medical devices such as medical instrument trays, sewing needles, orthopedic braces, stents, etc. Thanks to its biosafety and biodegradability, PLA helps reduce and minimize the risk of cross-contamination and limit negative impacts on the environment.
Source: Internet
4.3. Manufacture of electronic product shells
In addition, PLA plastic is also used in the production of phone cases, computer cases, headphone cases, etc. With its toughness, good heat resistance, and biodegradability, this is the choice. A potential replacement for traditional plastics in the electronics industry.
4.4. Production of spare tires
PLA plastic is used to produce spare tires for cars. Thanks to its lightness, good load-bearing capacity, and biodegradability, PLA contributes to improving fuel efficiency and minimizing negative impacts on the environment. Although light, PLA tires still possess impressive load-bearing capacity, ensuring user safety in case of need.
Source: Internet
4.5. Production of biological mulch in agriculture
PLA coating helps speed up fruit ripening while protecting fruit from the harmful effects of UV rays, insects, and fungi. Thanks to this, farmers can harvest products earlier, improving productivity and crop quality.
Source: Internet
In addition to the above applications, PLA plastic is also used in many other fields such as manufacturing toys, household appliances, gifts, etc. Thanks to its outstanding advantages, PLA plastic is predicted to continue to be popular. applied more widely in the future, contributing to environmental protection and moving towards a green future.
5. Notes when using PLA plastic
With wide applications in many fields, PLA plastic promises to contribute positively to the sustainable development of society. However, when using this type of plastic, you also need to note the following points to ensure safety and effectiveness:
5.1. Temperature
PLA plastic should be stored in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight. The ideal storage temperature is from 15 - 25°C. Avoid storing PLA plastic in places with temperatures that are too high or too low because it can reduce the quality of the plastic.
Source: Internet
5.2. Preserve
PLA plastic has high hygroscopicity. When exposed to moisture in the air, the plastic will soften and shrink, leading to clogging and cracking during the printing process. Therefore, it is necessary to store PLA plastic in a dry, cool place with low humidity.
Source: Internet
5.3. Recycling
PLA plastic needs to be recycled properly to optimize efficiency and protect the environment. The recycling process involves melting and reshaping the material. Using specialized recycling machines is necessary to ensure the quality of products after recycling. However, it should be noted that PLA plastic that is dirty or contaminated with impurities should not be recycled because it will affect the quality of the new product.
Source: Internet
EQUO's Compostable Solution: A Sustainable Alternative to Controversial PLA Plastic
PLA is a new kind of plastic innovation aiming to help the environment by using renewable resources instead of petrochemicals. However, it faces controversy due to eco-friendliness concerns, particularly its limited ability to decompose outside industrial composting facilities, which are scarce globally.
Addressing these challenges, EQUO proudly introduces our compostable products proudly stand as the ultimate alternative to all plastic types. Crafted from plant-based materials, they are 100% free of plastic, and can break down completely in any conditions within a matter of months. Join EQUO in forging a path towards a greener and more sustainable future!
