Corn-based Plastic Part 2: What does it look like and where can you get it

Corn-based Plastic or PLA can look like your plastic party cup or your t-shirt.  It comes in many different shapes, sizes, and configurations.  Where can you find it? The easiest places might be online, but lets see.

Yesterday’s piece discussed the pros and cons of corn-based plastic also known as PLA.  As mentioned, one of the largest U.S. PLA producers is NatureWorks.  The plastic that the company makes can be found “in the areas of fiber and nonwovens, films, extruded and thermoformed containers, and extrusion and emulsion coatings.”

PLA looks like other plastics and can be used for many of the same uses.  It can be molded into food containers, used to coat milk jugs and paper cups, and woven into fabric for clothing and furniture.

Although corn-based plastics have a lower melting point than other plastics, some PLA plastic items can be used in the microwave and hold hot beverages, but you need to check the packaging of the specific plastic item since many won’t survive hot beverages or microwaving.  The thicker the plastic container the greater the likelihood that it will withstand the heat.

Dishwashing PLA plastic products can be a problem depending on the temperature of your dishwasher.  The hotter the dishwasher the greater the probability that your plastic mug or cup will come out warped or partially melted.

Manufacturers that use corn-based plastics or fibers can be found worldwide.  Many of their products, like luncheon meat packaging, plastic cups, plastic utensils, plastic plates or chips bags can readily be found in your local supermarket.  As more and more companies opt for more environmentally friendly packaging, corn plastic will be more prevalent in ways we don’t even notice.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a “BioPreferred Biobased Product Catalog”.  That can guide you in your search for corn plastics or textiles.  Other likely on line sources of corn-based products are stores that sell environmentally friendly products like Sunrisewd, Biodegradable Store, Eco Products, Proforma Green, CornPlasticStore.com, The Better Health Store and of course, CornMug.com.  Most health food stores and co-ops will have corn based products like mugs and water bottles that you can purchase.

Since the production of corn-based plastic and fiber is still relatively new, it may be difficult to find t-shirts and other items made from corn fiber.  Products using corn fibers and plastics will become more prevalent with time, and technology improvement.

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• Corn-based Plastic Part 1: What are the pros and cons
• True plastic recycling with Plastinum
• Toyota will use Ecological Plastic in its new Prius
• H-P looks closely at plastic displays
• Genetically altered E. coli produces plastic at Genomatica