As environmentally friendly manufacturing and materials continue to increase in popularity, plastic manufacturers are adapting along with the rest of the world. Revolutionary innovations in the field allow environmentally-minded packaging companies to develop newer, better forms of biodegradable packaging that are useful in a wide range of applications.

Biodegradable Packaging of the Past

While plastic manufacturers have long attempted to create reliable forms of biodegradable packaging, many are still using inferior production methods of the past. When this type of packaging is created, it is done using renewable resources like polylactic acid (PLA), which derives from corn. Typically, PLA is structurally unsound, and warps when exposed to relatively low temperatures or humidity. When properly treated by a packaging company, though, the material can be much more heat resistant, enabling consumers to use it for a wider variety of purposes and with greater reliability.

The PLA Effect

PLA, a material used in the creation of biodegradable packaging, naturally breaks down over time. As it breaks down, it remains perfectly safe for the natural environment and any living creatures that calls it home. And since it is derived from corn, it is a renewable resource that doesn’t harm the environment when composted.

How Biodegradable Packaging Is Used

Once it’s been treated to resist heat and humidity, biodegradable packaging can be used for most of the same applications as any other type of plastic. For example, it may be used for applications like food, pharmaceuticals and medical packaging that does not need any sterilization. Plastic manufacturers may also use these materials for non-packaging-related applications, like one-time-use garments, upholstery filler, disposable plates, napkins or disposable diapers. Because the chemicals and used are biodegradable, this material is perfectly suited for products that are either disposable or have an otherwise short shelf life—consumers can use them and compost them without worrying about detrimental effects on the environment.

Inherent Risks

Biodegradable packaging isn’t foolproof, though. If a company that isn’t experienced in dealing with this somewhat unpredictable material, the packages may be structurally unsound or poorly molded. Only a plastic manufacturer with experience and thoroughly developed green technology should be entrusted with manufacturing your environmentally friendly packaging.

To learn more about the latest advances in PLA manufacturing and other environmentally friendly plastics, contact Plastic Ingenuity today.