Maya Ellison
PLA, or polylactic acid, is a biodegradable and environmentally-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics. PLA is produced from any fermentable sugar, with corn being the most popular option due to its low cost and availability. Other options include sugarcane, tapioca root, cassava, and sugar beet pulp. PLA requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional plastics and emits 68% fewer greenhouse gases. It is also non-toxic, making it a safer option for 3D printing. The cost of producing PLA has decreased significantly over time, from $200 per pound initially to less than $1 per pound today. This has made PLA a more affordable and competitive option in the market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost to produce one pound | $200 when first produced, now less than $1 |
| Energy required to produce | 65% less than traditional, petroleum-based plastics |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | 68% less than traditional, petroleum-based plastics |
| Feedstock | Corn, sugarcane, tapioca root, cassava, sugar beet pulp |
What You'll Learn
- PLA costs less than $1 per pound to manufacture today, compared to $200 when it was first produced
- PLA is produced from any fermentable sugar, with corn being the most popular option due to its low cost
- PLA requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional, petroleum-based plastics
- PLA emits 68% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional plastics
- PLA is considered a functional, renewable, and comparable replacement for fossil fuel-based plastics
PLA costs less than $1 per pound to manufacture today, compared to $200 when it was first produced
PLA, or polylactic acid, is a bio-based plastic that costs less than $1 per pound to manufacture today. This is a significant reduction from when it was first produced, when it cost around $200 per pound. This reduction in cost is due to innovations in manufacturing processes.
PLA is produced from any fermentable sugar, with corn being the most common source due to its low cost and global availability. However, other sources such as sugarcane, tapioca root, cassava, and sugar beet pulp are also used. PLA requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional, petroleum-based plastics and emits 68% fewer greenhouse gases. It is also biodegradable, naturally degrading rather than piling up in landfills.
Despite the benefits of PLA, there are some challenges to its widespread adoption. One issue is the sustainability of using food plants such as corn as feedstock, which can impact agricultural land use. Alternative feedstocks have been explored, such as corn stover, but these are not yet market-ready due to higher fixed costs.
To overcome this obstacle, it is important to inform consumers about the environmental benefits of switching to alternative feedstocks. By increasing demand for PLA and other bio-based plastics, the industry can move towards more sustainable and eco-friendly practices, reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 25%.
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PLA is produced from any fermentable sugar, with corn being the most popular option due to its low cost
PLA, or polylactic acid, is a plastic substitute made from any fermentable sugar, with corn being the most popular option. This is because corn is one of the cheapest and most available sugars globally.
When it was first produced, PLA cost about $200 to make one pound. However, thanks to innovations in manufacturing processes, it now costs less than $1 per pound to manufacture. This makes PLA a viable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics, which are not only hazardous but also a finite resource.
PLA requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional plastics and emits 68% fewer greenhouse gases. It is also biodegradable, naturally degrading rather than piling up in landfills.
Despite these advantages, the production of PLA from corn does have some sustainability issues related to agricultural land use. There are also higher fixed costs associated with corn-based PLA, which can be a barrier to upscaling production. However, corn stover-based PLA has lower variable costs than corn grain-based PLA due to the lower costs of feedstock procurement.
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PLA requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional, petroleum-based plastics
PLA, or polylactic acid, is a bio-based plastic that requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional, petroleum-based plastics. PLA is made from fermentable sugars, most commonly corn, but also sugarcane, tapioca root, cassava, and sugar beet pulp.
When it was first produced, PLA cost about $200 to make one pound. However, thanks to innovations in manufacturing processes, it now costs less than $1 per pound to manufacture. This has made PLA a popular choice for 3D printing, as it has a lower melting point than other filament options, making it easier and safer to use.
The production of PLA from biological resources is a promising option for decarbonising plastic production and solving the plastic waste issue. PLA is also a functional, renewable, and comparable replacement for fossil fuel-based plastics, which are not only hazardous but also a finite resource.
One obstacle to the wider adoption of PLA is the lack of cost competitiveness of alternative feedstocks such as corn stover and corn grain. However, corn stover-based PLA is already competitive with corn grain-based PLA in terms of variable costs due to the lower costs of feedstock procurement.
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PLA emits 68% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional plastics
PLA, or polylactic acid, is a bio-based plastic polymer. It is produced from any fermentable sugar, with corn being the most popular option due to its low cost and availability. Other options include sugarcane, tapioca root, cassava, and sugar beet pulp.
When it was first produced, PLA cost about $200 to make one pound. However, thanks to innovations in manufacturing processes, it now costs less than $1 per pound to manufacture. This has made PLA a popular choice for 3D printing, as it has a lower melting point than other filament options, making it easier and safer to use.
One of the key advantages of PLA is its environmental benefits. PLA requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional, petroleum-based plastics. It also emits 68% fewer greenhouse gases. This makes PLA a functional, renewable, and comparable replacement for fossil fuel-based plastics, which are not only hazardous but also a finite resource.
The production of PLA from biological resources is a promising option for decarbonising plastic production and solving the plastic waste issue. A 2017 study found that replacing petroleum-based plastics with bio-based plastics could reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions by 25%. However, there are some sustainability issues related to the use of food plants such as corn as feedstocks, as well as higher fixed costs associated with alternative feedstocks.
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PLA is considered a functional, renewable, and comparable replacement for fossil fuel-based plastics
PLA, or polylactic acid, is a functional, renewable, and comparable replacement for fossil fuel-based plastics. PLA is produced from any fermentable sugar, with corn being the most popular option due to its low cost and availability. However, other options include sugarcane, tapioca root, cassava, and sugar beet pulp. PLA is considered a bio-based product because it is derived from renewable agriculture or plants.
PLA has gained popularity as a biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics. It requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional plastics and emits 68% fewer greenhouse gases. A 2017 study found that replacing petroleum-based plastics with bio-based plastics like PLA could reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.
The production of PLA from biological resources is a promising option for decarbonising plastic production and addressing the plastic waste issue. However, the current practice of using food plants such as corn as feedstock raises sustainability concerns related to agricultural land use. Alternative feedstocks, such as corn stover, have been explored but are not yet market-ready due to cost competitiveness and higher fixed costs.
When PLA was first produced, it cost about $200 to manufacture one pound. However, thanks to innovations in manufacturing processes, it now costs less than $1 per pound to produce. This reduction in production costs has made PLA a more affordable and accessible option, with the potential for massive adoption in various applications.
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Frequently asked questions
It costs less than $1 per pound to manufacture PLA plastic today. When it was first produced, it cost about $200 to make one pound.
PLA plastic is made from any fermentable sugar. Most PLA is made from corn because it is one of the cheapest and most available sugars globally. However, sugarcane, tapioca root, cassava, and sugar beet pulp are other options.
PLA plastic requires 65% less energy to produce than traditional, petroleum-based plastics. It is also made from renewable resources, which are cheaper than finite fossil fuels.
Yes, PLA plastic is environmentally friendly. It emits 68% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional plastics. It is also biodegradable, naturally degrading rather than piling up in landfills.
One disadvantage of PLA plastic is that it has higher fixed costs than other plastics. This is because it requires more technological input and the development of input prices is uncertain.
