PLA — Biodegradable
Plant-based, compostable polymer for single-use replacement.
Polylactic acid (PLA) made from renewable corn and sugarcane sugars — a genuine drop-in for fossil single-use plastics on conventional injection and extrusion lines, engineered to return to nature through industrial composting.
Request a sample →| Grade (190°C / 2.16 kg) | Process | D-content | Tm (°C) | Tensile (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFI 30 | Thin-wall injection | <1% / 2% | 175 / 165 | 50 |
| MFI 10 | General injection | <1% / 2% | 175 / 165 | 50 |
| MFI 4 | Extrusion / thermoforming | <1% / 2% / 4% | 175 / 165 / 155 | 50 / 45 |
Controlled facility · ~58 °C
Standard PLA composts fully in controlled industrial facilities — roughly 90% disintegration within 12 weeks and full biodegradation within about 180 days, given the right heat, moisture and oxygen.
Selected thin-wall grades
Thin-walled products in specific grades can break down in home compost systems, though more slowly and less reliably than in industrial conditions.
Does PLA biodegrade in landfill?
No. PLA needs the heat, moisture and microbes of industrial composting to break down — in a landfill it persists much like conventional plastic. Specify PLA where composting infrastructure is available.
Can PLA handle hot food?
Standard PLA softens near its ~60 °C glass transition, so it suits cold and ambient use — not hot-fill or microwave. Crystallised (CPLA) grades, heat-treated for higher crystallinity, extend service temperature to roughly 85–100 °C for hot cutlery and lids.
Is PLA recyclable?
Technically yes, but it needs separate collection and contaminates conventional PET recycling streams. Industrial composting is the recommended end-of-life route; chemical recycling for PLA is still emerging.
What is the shelf life?
12–24 months when stored cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Degradation is triggered by composting conditions, not by ambient storage.