ABSTRACT
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-derived products belongs to the family of aliphatic polyesters commonly derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch (in the United States), tapioca roots, chips or starch (mostly in Asia), or sugarcane (in the rest of the world). The basic materials will be transferred by means of a bacterial fermentation process in lactic acid, the basic chemical needed for PLA production. Compared to many commodity polymers (e.g., PP, PE, PVC, PS), PLA has good properties such as high stiffness, clarity, gloss, and UV stability. PLA is also a low-impact, greenhouse gas polymer because the CO2 generated during PLA biodegradation is balanced by an equal amount taken from the atmosphere during the growth of plant feedstocks. In contrast, petrochemical-based
polymers contribute to volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and CO2 generation when incinerated. Furthermore, PLA is easily processed on standard plastic equipment to yield molded parts, ilm, or ibers. Therefore, it has been used as package materials and other products.
