Polylactic Acid (PLA) Bottles

4B. Polylactic Acid (PLA) Bottles

Ingeo biopolymer is made of polylactic acid, a repeating chain of lactic acid, which undergoes a 2-step degradation process. First, the moisture and heat in the compost pile attack the polymer chains and split them apart, creating smaller polymers, and finally, lactic acid. Microorganisms in compost and soil consume the smaller polymer fragments and lactic acid as nutrients. Since lactic acid is widely found in nature, a large number of organisms metabolize lactic acid. At a minimum, fungi and bacteria participate in this degradation process. The end result of the process is carbon dioxide, water and also humus, a soil nutrient. This degradation process is temperature and humidity dependent. Regulatory guidelines and standards for composting revolve around four basic criteria: Material Characteristics, Biodegradation, Disintegration, and Ecotoxicity. Description of the requirements of these testing can be found in the appropriate geographical area: DIN V 54900-1 (Germany), EN 13432 (EU), ASTM D 6400 (USA), GreenPla (Japan). This grade of Ingeo biopolymer meets the requirements of these four standards with limititaion of maximum thickness 3.2mm.