Polylactic Acid

Other names: polylactic acid, polylactide acid, PLA

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Polylactic Acid, more commonly known as polylactic acid or polylactide acid, is a completely biodegradable and bio-based polymer that is produced mainly from renewable resources such as sugar cane or starch. This substance has several unique properties that distinguish it from other plastic materials. PLA is a very hard and transparent material with a high melt temperature, making it an ideal material for 3D printing. Its other advantage is biodegradability, which means that under the right conditions it can break down into natural products like carbon dioxide and water.

Due to its unique properties, polylactic acid is used in a variety of industries. In the automotive industry, it plays an important role in the production of car interior parts. In the medical field, PLA is used in the production of surgical sutures, implants, syringes or encapsulated pharmaceuticals. In the textile industry, it is used for the production of biodegradable fibres. In the food industry, it is used as a packaging material for food, including hot beverages, as it can withstand high temperatures. Recently, PLA has become very popular in 3D printing as it is easy to process and the printed objects are very strong, flexible and with high detail accuracy. It is also a greener alternative to traditional plastics as it is completely biodegradable.