What Is PLA Film and How Does It Work

PLA film is a type of bioplastic film made from polylactic acid, a biodegradable and renewable resource derived from cornstarch, sugarcane, or potato starch.

PLA film is a versatile material used in various applications, including packaging, medical devices, and 3D printing.

It's a non-toxic and compostable alternative to traditional plastics, which are often made from fossil fuels and can take hundreds of years to decompose.

PLA film can be molded, extruded, and cast into various shapes and forms, making it a popular choice for product designers and manufacturers.

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PLA film is a biodegradable film made from readily available plant-based feedstocks like plants, corn starch, and sugarcane. This means it's a great option for those looking for an eco-friendly packaging solution.

PLA film is compostable, widely accessible, and renewable. It's produced from feedstock such as leaves, plants, and husks of corn and sugarcane, making it a true environmentally friendly solution.

Here are some key characteristics of PLA film:

This film converts into carbon dioxide and water within 90 days of being composted, making it a great choice for companies looking to reduce their environmental impact.

PLA film is a biodegradable film made from plant-based feedstocks like plants, corn starch, and sugarcane.

These feedstocks are readily available and don't come from established global food chains.

RTG Films uses portions of agricultural production that cannot be sold for consumption to make clear PLA packaging film.

This renewable, environmentally friendly, and fully sustainable packaging film solution is perfect for eco-conscious customers.

Clear PLA food packaging film is completely transparent, odorless, and has no trace of petroleum.

It looks and feels like any other plastic film used in packaging, making it a great option for food producers.

Our PLA film converts into carbon dioxide and water within 90 days of being composted.

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PLA film is made from a bio-based plastic resin derived from biomass feedstocks, which means it's a more environmentally friendly option compared to traditional petrochemical-based films.

This type of feedstock is a key difference between PLA film and other films, as it allows PLA film to biodegrade without leaving behind metal or microplastic shards.

PLA film is compostable, which is a major advantage over other types of packaging films.

PLA film has a range of characteristics that make it suitable for various applications. Its thickness can be as low as 18-25 microns, making it a versatile material.

The heat shrinkage of PLA film can be adjusted to meet specific demands, ranging from 10-70%. This is particularly useful for applications where a precise shrinkage is required.

Rigid PLA film has a high modulus, with values ranging from 860-1120 MPa, making it suitable for applications where rigidity is crucial. In contrast, flexible PLA film has a lower modulus, ranging from 20-25 MPa, making it more suitable for applications where flexibility is important.

Here's a comparison of the tensile strength of rigid and flexible PLA film:

Polylactic Acid (PLA) Shrink Film is a game-changer in the packaging industry due to its eco-friendly nature. It's derived from renewable resources like corn starch, making it fully biodegradable and compostable.

PLA Shrink Film offers excellent clarity, providing high transparency and a glossy finish that enhances the aesthetic appeal of packaged goods. This makes it ideal for product display.

One of the key benefits of PLA Shrink Film is its good shrink properties. It shrinks uniformly when heat is applied, providing a tight and secure wrap that conforms to the product's shape.

Here are some key specifications of PLA Shrink Film:

In addition to its shrink properties, PLA Shrink Film is also strong and durable, providing robust protection for products during transportation and storage. This is especially important for products that need to withstand rough handling.

PLA Shrink Film is also safe for food contact, making it a preferred option for the food industry, especially for fresh produce and packaged snacks.

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PLA Shrink Film is a versatile material with a range of special makings that make it suitable for various industries.

Its biodegradable nature makes it a great choice for packaging fresh produce, beverages, baked goods, and snacks in the Food & Beverage Industry.

In the Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Products sector, PLA Shrink Film offers a secure seal and clarity, making it ideal for packaging medical devices and supplements.

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For Retail & Consumer Goods, PLA Shrink Film provides high transparency and gloss, perfect for packaging electronics, cosmetics, and toys.

The film's ability to tightly conform to product shapes also makes it suitable for wrapping bottles and boxes in the Cosmetics & Personal Care industry.

In the Agriculture & Horticulture sector, PLA Shrink Film ensures durability and protection during transit, making it a great choice for packaging small agricultural products, seeds, and gardening tools.

For businesses looking to enhance their sustainability initiatives, PLA Shrink Film is a great option, as it promotes an eco-friendly image and meets the growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible packaging solutions.

Here are some of the key application fields for PLA Shrink Film:

PLA film is a game-changer in the packaging industry. It's derived from renewable materials, making it a more sustainable option compared to traditional plastics. PLA film is compostable, biodegradable, and non-toxic, ensuring a safe and eco-friendly packaging solution.

PLA film is ideal for various applications, including food and beverage packaging, pharmaceuticals, and retail goods. It's perfect for wrapping small agricultural products, seeds, and gardening tools, ensuring durability and protection during transit. PLA film is also suitable for packaging cosmetics, personal care items, and other retail goods.

One of the key benefits of PLA film is its high transparency and gloss, providing visual appeal and enhancing product display. It's also suitable for packaging medical devices, supplements, and healthcare products, offering protection while communicating a clean, eco-conscious image.

PLA film is available in various thicknesses, widths, and sizes, making it a versatile option for different packaging needs. It's also 100% biodegradable and compostable, reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability.

Here are some of the key applications of PLA film:

By choosing PLA film, businesses can enhance their sustainability initiatives, improve brand perception, and meet the growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible packaging solutions.

Bio-based PLA film is quite versatile, but it has some limitations. It's more brittle and marks easily than polypropylene, making it not robust enough for heavy or sharp items.

Handling PLA film requires a bit more care than polypropylene, especially when packing cards or other delicate items. Hopefully, future developments will lead to a more robust version of the film.

PLA film is not waterproof, so it's not suitable for containing wet products. If it gets splashed with water and wiped off immediately, it should be okay, but it's still not a good idea to use it with wet products.

Bio-based PLA film is not suitable for archival purposes, and we can't guarantee it to be acid-free for use with valuable paintings or other sensitive items.

The shelf life of PLA film is surprisingly long, up to 12 months in ideal conditions, but can be even longer if kept away from humidity and direct sunlight.

To maximize shelf life, it's essential to avoid exposure to moisture, heat, and light, which can cause degradation. This means keeping your PLA film bags away from shop windows or areas with high humidity.

In normal shop use, you can expect to get many months, if not a year or more, before any degradation starts to show. And if your PLA film bags do get splashed with water, they're stable enough to be wiped clean without harm.

In landfill, PLA film bags will break down to CO2 and water, just like they would in a compost heap, making them a more eco-friendly option.

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Shelf life of Bio-based PLA film is up to 12 months in ideal conditions, but can be longer if kept away from humidity and direct sunlight.

To maximise shelf life, it's essential to avoid exposure to humidity and excessive heat, moisture, and light.

In normal shop use, you can expect to get many months, if not a year or more, before any degradation could start to show.

Bio-based PLA film bags are also very stable if splashed with water, and they don't start to degrade immediately, so if wiped off promptly, they should come to no harm.

However, exposure to bright direct sunlight, such as in a shop window, can result in degradation and discolouration over time, especially in extreme conditions.

In landfill, Bio-based PLA film bags will break down to CO2 and water in much the same way as they would in a compost heap.

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Our bio-based film bags are made from annually renewable vegetable starch and are certified compostable. They break down to CO2 and water, which can then be reused in the ecosystem to make new plants.

In commercial composting, the temperature is higher and the process is much quicker. It takes around 45 days for them to decompose at a constant 58°C, similar to that found in industrial composting.

The composting process uses naturally occurring bacterial and fungal activity to break down the film into CO2, H2O, and ecotoxic-free biomass (compost).

In a colder home composter or landfill, the process will take longer as it requires the presence of suitable bacteria and fungi to start the process.

PLA film is a game-changer in the world of packaging. It's made from a biodegradable material called Poly-Lactic-Acid (PLA), which is obtained primarily from corn.

PLA film is a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic packaging. This is because PLA is derived from plants that grow through photosynthesis, absorbing CO2 from the air and using sunlight for energy.

The PLA film cycle is a closed-loop system, where the used film is composted into CO2, water, and biomass. This process allows the nutrients to be reused by plants, creating a continuous cycle.

Our compostable PLA film is made from starch derived from corn. These crops are not grown just to make the PLA bags.

The raw materials are likely to have been sourced from a range of different producers and processing companies. This increases the likelihood of GM contamination.

We must assume it probable that at least a small percentage of this starch could have originated from GM crops or from non-GM crops contaminated by proximity to a GM crop.

Therefore, we cannot guarantee 100% that these bags will be completely GM free.

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The Bio-Based Cycle is a closed-loop system where resources are constantly being recycled and reused. This cycle starts with plants that grow by absorbing CO2 from the air, minerals from the soil, and energy from the sun.

These plants are typically corn, although other starch/sugar sources can also be used. The starch and sugar content of the plants is converted into lactic acid through fermentation by microorganisms.

Lactic acid is then polymerized to form poly-lactic acid (PLA), which is a biodegradable and renewable resource. PLA is extruded into film, creating a flexible bio-based film packaging material.

Once the biofilm is used, it's composted into CO2, water, and biomass. This compost is then used by plants, allowing the cycle to continue.

This closed-loop system reduces waste and minimizes the environmental impact of traditional packaging materials. By choosing bio-based materials like PLA, we can contribute to a more sustainable future.