Continental shows its green side with PLA
With the effect of plastic on the environment becoming a larger concern to the packaging industry, Continental is spearheading the effort to introduce biodegradable materials.
Environmentally-sensitive materials have been desired by scrupulous packagers for years. The wait is over. Today, Continental Packaging Solutions introduces “green” packaging in the form of PLA.
PLA - or Polylactic Acid - is a corn based material that can be turned into compost at commercial composting facilities, allowing for packaging that, once the content is used by the consumer, can be turned into compost. The metamorphosis from bottle to earth-friendly compost is completed in less than 12 weeks.
Sharp looks, earth-friendly
The environmentally-conscious bottler need not worry about lack of design options, either. PLA can be run in PET molds, and has worked successfully in PP molds. There is no need to build new molds to accommodate this technology.
PLA is ideal for oil based products, short shelf life dairy products, juice, and water bottles, as well as trays for deli meats, salads, and single serve meals. It doesn’t end there, however. Continental offers makeup compacts made from PLA, showing the true versatility of this material.
The Science
Dextrose, a natural sugar derived from the starch in kernels of corn (or maize) is the primary raw material for PLA. Other agricultural raw materials, such as rice, sugar beets, sugar cane, wheat and sweet potatoes, can also serve as sources for the starch or sugars used to make PLA, so in the future, the polymer could be made from the dominant locally available crops.
There are compatibility limitations to PLA, so contact a Continental Packaging Consultant today to find out if PLA is right for you.