What is PLA bioplastic?
Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used bioplastics in compostable food packaging. Made from plant-derived sugars sourced from feedstocks such as corn, cassava or sugarcane, PLA can provide many of the functional properties associated with conventional plastics while reducing reliance on fossil-based feedstocks.
In takeaway packaging, PLA can be used as a clear plastic material — commonly used for iced matcha and smoothies or as a lining or component of paper-based packaging to achieve water resistance, providing an alternative to widely used petroleum-based plastics such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PE (polyethylene) linings. Where the finished packaging is tested and certified to recognised compostability standards, PLA can be processed in commercial composting environments under the required conditions.
Why PLA is used in food packaging
PLA is used across many compostable packaging formats because it offers several practical benefits for food service environments.
Food-contact safety
PLA is widely used in food packaging and complies with food-contact requirements in many markets, including regulations administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Migration studies conducted under FDA testing guidelines have shown that potential trace compounds released from PLA — such as lactic acid and related molecules occur at very low levels and ultimately convert to lactic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in many foods and in the human body.
Based on this evidence, PLA is recognised as safe for use in food-contact materials and is widely used globally in applications such as cups, lids, deli containers and food packaging films.
RESEARCH: PLA food-contact safety
Performance for cold food and drinks
PLA is particularly well suited to cold food and beverage packaging because it combines high clarity with rigidity. This makes it useful for applications such as cold cups and lids, deli containers and other packaging where visibility of the food or drink is important.
Standard PLA has relatively low heat resistance and begins to soften at elevated temperatures, so clear PLA packaging is generally not suitable for hot food, hot drinks or microwave applications.
PLA can, however, be used differently in hot-food packaging — for example, as a thin barrier lining on paperboard. In these formats, the paper fibre provides the structural strength while the PLA layer provides resistance to liquids and oils.
CPLA coffee cup lid
Versatility in packaging formats
PLA can be processed using many conventional plastics manufacturing techniques, allowing it to be formed into rigid packaging, films and thin barrier layers.
In foodservice packaging, this versatility means the same polymer can perform very different functions: forming a clear cold cup or deli container, becoming a transparent lid, or providing the liquid-resistant lining inside a paper cup, bowl or noodle box.
Renewable feedstocks
PLA is produced from plant-derived sugars, typically sourced from crops such as corn or sugarcane. This means the raw material originates from renewable biological resources rather than fossil-based petrochemicals.
Being biobased describes the source of the material; it does not by itself demonstrate that a finished PLA product is compostable. Compostability is a separate characteristic verified through testing and certification.
READ MORE: Bioplastic misconceptions
Duck Island customised PLA lined FSC® MIX paper bowls
Is PLA compostable?
PLA can be compostable when the finished packaging is tested and certified to recognised compostability standards and processed under the appropriate conditions.
Industrial compostability standards including EN 13432, ASTM D6400 and AS 4736 establish requirements for characteristics including biodegradation, disintegration and compost quality. Under EN 13432, for example, certified packaging must meet specified disintegration requirements within 12 weeks and biodegradation requirements within six months under defined test conditions.
These conditions matter. A certified PLA product may therefore be compostable while still not being accepted by every commercial composting facility. This is because, in Aotearoa New Zealand, composting facilities use different technologies and processing cycles, and additionally may not consistently achieve the temperatures, humidity, inoculum and other conditions required for PLA to break down in accordance to the Compostability standards define those products were certified to.
If you are considering PLA packaging so it can be recovered with food scraps, first identify an organics collection provider in your area that accepts certified compostable packaging and confirm where and how it will be composted.
READ MORE: Compostable materials in the real world: Scion x WasteMINZ
FIND AN ORGANICS COLLECTION SERVICE PROVIDER
Our products using PLA
We offer a range of foodservice takeaway packaging that utilises PLA — both as the primary packaging material and as a component of paper-based products.
Our clear PLA packaging is made using PLA derived from corn-based plant sugars, while paper-based formats utilise PLA as a thin lining to provide resistance to liquids and oils. Finished products are independently certified to recognised industrial compostability standards, with certifications varying by product.
You will find PLA in the following product ranges:
Clear cold cups and lids
CPLA coffee cup lids
Clear food containers
Bin liners and coffee dump bags
Paper PLA lined coffee cups
Paper PLA lined bowls and lids
Paper PLA lined noodle boxes
These packaging formats combine renewable materials with certified compostable systems designed to support food-waste recovery.
Exploring certified compostable PLA packaging for your business
If you're material-curious or exploring ways to reduce reliance on petrochemical plastics, we’re always happy to talk. We can help you identify where PLA is appropriate for your application and consider the composting pathway available to your business.
For product information, samples or custom branding enquiries, email hello@ecoware.co.nz to start the conversation.
