Polylactic acid (PLA), a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch (usually corn) is quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. As more and more countries and states follow the lead of Italy, South Africa, Turkey, Uganda and San Francisco in banning plastic grocery bags responsible for so much so-called “white pollution” around the world, PLA is poised to play a big role as a viable, biodegradable replacement.

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Proponents also tout the use of PLA, which is technically “carbon neutral” in that it comes from renewable, carbon-absorbing plants, as yet another way to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases in a quickly warming world. PLA also will not emit toxic fumes when incinerated.

However, there are still issues with the use of polylactic acid such as its slow rate of biodegradability, its inability to mix with other plastics in recycling, and its high use of genetically modified corn (though arguably the latter could be one of the good effects of PLA as it provides a good reason to alter crop yields with genetic splicing).

The Cons of PLA: Biodegradation Rate and Recycling

Critics say that PLA is far from a panacea for dealing with the world’s plastic waste problem. For one thing, although PLA does biodegrade, it does so very slowly. According to Elizabeth Royte, writing in Smithsonian, PLA may well break down into its constituent parts (carbon dioxide and water) within three months in a “controlled composting environment,” that is, an industrial composting facility heated to 140 F and fed a steady diet of digestive microbes. It will take far longer in a compost bin, or in a landfill packed so tightly that no light and little oxygen are available to assist in the process. Indeed, analysts estimate that a PLA bottle could take anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill.

Another issue with PLA is that it must be kept separate when recycled, lest it contaminates the recycling stream; since PLA is plant-based, it needs to be disposed of in composting facilities, which points to another problem: There are currently a few hundred industrial-grade composting facilities across the United States.

Finally, PLA is typically made of genetically modified corn, at least in the United States. The largest producer of PLA in the world is NatureWorks, a subsidiary of Cargill, which is the world’s largest provider of genetically modified corn seed. This is tricky because the future costs of genetic modification (and the associated pesticides) to the environment and human health are still largely unknown.

Pros of PLA Over Plastics: Utility and Biodegradability

Genetically modified foods may be a controversial issue, but when it comes to genetically spicing plants together to breed corn that yields more crops for industrial use has its major advantages. With the increasing demand for corn to make ethanol fuel, let alone PLA, it’s no wonder that Cargill and others have been tampering with genes to produce higher yields. At least harmful plastic isn't going to be used as frequently anymore!

Many industries are using PLA because they are capable of biodegrading at a much faster rate than plastic while still offering the same level of sanitation and utility. Everything from plastic clamshells for food take-out to medical products can now be made from PLA, which drastically reduces the carbon footprint of these industries.

While PLA has promise as an alternative to conventional plastic once the means of disposal are worked out, consumers might be better served by simply switching to reusable containers, from cloth bags, baskets, and backpacks for grocery shopping to safe, reusable (non-plastic) bottles for beverages.

How to Recognise Corn Starch Packaging?- 6 Things You Must Know between Corn Starch-Based Plastic and Our Biodegradable Corn Tableware

Green Olive has launched a new innovative eco-friendly packaging product this year, which is made from natural corn starch including biodegradable eco-friendly tableware, such as biodegradable plates and bowls, eco-friendly food containers, biodegradable dishes, etc., and inner biodegradable packaging applied to cosmetics, consumer electronics, pharmaceutical products, etc. Corn starch biodegradable packaging is non-toxic, plastic-free and more eco-friendly. It has received much positive feedback from the market since its release.

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But we found many customers often mixed our corn starch packaging products with cornstarch-based plastic products before seeing them physically. Though both are called biodegradable disposable tableware, there are still some differences between them. How to recognize corn starch packaging? So here we sum up the main points between the two different food packaging materials for your easy understanding of our biodegradable corn starch tableware products.

1. By Color

Corn starch-based plastic tableware looks ivory white and white, our tableware is white, if not mixed with rice rusk or natural wood pulp(it’s dark brown when mixed with rice husk or natural wood pulp). Please see attached pictures for comparison.

                                                              The left soup bowl is our corn starch bowl, the right is a cornstarch-based plastic bowl, the color of the right bowl is ivory white.

2. By feel

Our green eco-friendly tableware is more like foam but no plastic, it’s thick. Corn starch-based plastic product looks like plastic, as it contains as high as 30% plastic. Our green dinnerware set is plastic-free, or only 1%-2% plastic just for waterproof purposes depending on the application. There is a natural texture on the surface of Green Olive corn starch plates or bowls( see below corn starch plate). Corn starch-based plastic tableware is thin and feels more like plastic.

3. By soaking

Our eco-friendly corn starch packaging is easy to get melted like tissue in water after a few minutes soaking, while the latter can’t be melted even for days. Our biodegradable tableware can be fully decomposed in 20-30 days, it breaks down into water and carbon dioxide after degradation, no toxic substances left hence more eco-friendly.

4. By smelling

Green Olive biodegradable disposable packaging products smell like popcorn, a very natural smell. It is food grade and fully comply with FDA and EU food safety standards, the latter doesn’t have such smell.

5. By stretching

Green Olive tableware is sturdy and durable than bagasse tableware, but less durable than plastic as Green Olive green eco friendly dinnerware including all product range such as corn starch plates and bowls, take away food containers, biodegradable corn starch cups, food trays for fresh vegetables and fruits, do not contain plastic or only very little sprayed on the surface of the products for moister barrier. But if by stretching with hands, it will get broken if stretch hard, while cornstarch-based plastic tableware can’t be destroyed into pieces by hands easily due to plastic’s physical properties.

6. By composition analysis

Green Olive biodegradable tableware contains as high as 90% corn starch, and the other 10% is wood pulp, all-natural material and biodegradable; cornstarch-based plastic tableware contains 60-70 percentage corn starch, the other is resin, plastic, coupling agent, etc.

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