You might have spotted the acronym PLA on some plastic food contact articles like cups, single-use cutlery, or takeout boxes before.

PLA stands for polylactic acid and is a plastic material made from renewable resources such as corn or sugar cane and is one of the most common “bioplastics” in the world. Does that mean it’s safer than fossil-based plastics? Can it degrade in the environment? Let’s take a look!

While PLA is often marketed as biodegradable, this doesn’t mean it will easily degrade when it ends up in the environment. PLA degrades only in industrial composting conditions, where ideal temperatures, pH, and other requirements are provided.

Studies have shown that while bioplastics are made from renewable feedstocks, they are not necessarily less chemically complex or safer than conventional fossil-based plastics. In a study from 2019, scientists investigated the toxicity of bioplastics and found a high baseline toxicity of PLA bioplastics – similar to conventional plastic materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC).