Frequently Asked Questions

 

PLA Faqs

What are corn plastics?
Corn plastics are plastics made from PLA (polylactide). PLA is made from corn. Corn plastic products look and feel just like regular plastic, but they are 100% biodegradable and compostable. Corn is a renewable resource which makes corn plastics much more sustainable than regular plastic which is made from petroleum.

What is PLA?
PLA stands for Polylactide, and is a versatile polymer that is made from lactic acid. Lactic acid is made from dextrose by fermentation. Dextrose is made from cornstarch and cornstarch is made from carbon dioxide and water. PLA can be formed into several different products like you see on our website.

How long does PLA take to biodegrade or compost?
PLA is fully compostable and biodegradable. In commercial composting conditions, PLA will compost in approximately 30-45 days. Composting may take longer in a home composting bin.

If I throw PLA in the trash, will it biodegrade in a landfill?
Most landfills are not designed to allow biodegrading of their contents. With that being said, PLA will react in landfills like other organic waste such as food. PLA is fully compostable in a composting facility. In addition, PLA is made from a renewable resource – corn – instead of regular plastic that is made from oil.

Ok, what's the difference between compostable and biodegradable?
The difference between the terms sound confusing due mainly in part of manufacturers using the terms interchangeably. Unfortunately this practice has served only to "greenwash" consumers. Here is the truth.

  • Biodegradable - means that the product will deteriorate under normal circumstances and normal conditions such as those found in city landfills.

  • Compostable - means that the product will deteriorate but only in specially controlled environments such a composting facility.

What about recycled or recyclable products?
Recycled and recyclable products have their place in the world of green meetings but they are NOT biodegradable nor are they compostable. Once these products make it to the landfill they will remain intact for many years to - in some cases, forever.

Is PLA recyclable?
No, PLA is designed to biodegrade. The products made from PLA are "reusable" but only in the sense that at some point they will have to be composted.

Where can I find a compost site?
PLA requires special composting methods that are generally not available at all landfills or municipal composting facilities. To find your nearest PLA certified composting facility click here.

Is PLA more or less expensive than regular plastic?
PLA is now becoming competitively priced with PET (petroleum) plastic. For some products, such as cold cups, PLA is less expensive than PET. For other products, PLA is the same or slightly more. Since PLA is made from U.S.-grown corn, you can be confident that your money is going back in the U.S. economy rather than to overseas oil companies.

What products are made out of PLA?
Products not only include the BIOTECH™ Badge System, but also other items such as cups, cutlery, food containers, trash bags and more. Everyday new products are being produced and soon enough every plastic product will have a PLA counterpart.

Does PLA contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)?
The PLA resin does not contain any GMO. All genetically modified organisms are eliminated during the production process of the PLA resin. Unfortunately, PLA is not produced from GMO-free corn.