All right, friends. Let’s do this. This section will cover basic, frequently asked questions about polylactic acid (PLA), and why it’s essential to the future of temporary products.
PLA is different than most thermoplastic polymers in that it is derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugar cane.
The lifecycle below shows the extraction process and final product, as well as how the final product can be recycled too!
Most plastics are derived from the distillation and polymerization of nonrenewable petroleum reserves. Plastics that are derived from biomass (e.g., PLA) are known as “bioplastics.¹”
3D printing
Biodegradable medical devices (e.g. screws meant to degrade in 6-12 mos)
Plastic films (e.g. mulch films)
Water bottles
Utensils/cutlery/dish ware
Short-term packaging (e.g. tea, cups, fruits and vegetables)
Industrial and civilian cloth (e.g. tents!)
Great question! Here are a few of our favorite select resources about PLA!
Barrett, A. (2021). “Polylactic Acid or Polylactide (PLA).” Bioplastics News.
Felfil. (2021). “PLA filament for 3D printing: Learning about plastic materials." Felfil.
Muthui, Z. W., Kamweru, P. K., Nderitu, F. G., Hussein, S. A., Golicha, Ngumbu, R., and Njoroge, G. N. (2015). Polylactic acid (PLA) viscoelastic properties and their degradation compared with those of polyethylene. International Journal of Physical Sciences, 10(21), p 568-575). DOI: 10.5897/IJPS2015.4412.
Rogers, T. (2015). “Everything you need to know about polylactic acid (PLA).” Creative Mechanisms.
Royte, E. (2006). “Corn Plastic to the Rescue.” Smithsonian Magazine.
Sombatsompop, N., Srimaleanon, P., Markpin, T., and Prapagdee, B. (2021). “Polylactic Acid (PLA): Improve It, Use It, and Dump It Faster.” BioResources, 16(2) pp 2196 - 2199. DOI: 10.15376/biores.16.2.2196-2199
Zhang, Y. (2021). “Eight advantages and Four disadvantages of the polylactic acid (PLA).” LinkedIn.
