Questions about Corn Plastics / PLA

What are corn plastics?
Corn plastics are plastics made from PLA (polylactide).  PLA is made from corn.  Corn plastic products look and feel just like regular plastic, but they are 100% biodegradable and compostable.  Corn is a renewable resource which makes corn plastics much more sustainable than regular plastic.  Did you know that regular plastic is made from petroleum?

What is PLA?
PLA stands for Polylactide, and is a versatile polymer produced by NatureWorks LLC. PLA is made from lactic acid. Lactic acid is made from dextrose by fermentation. Dextrose is made from cornstarch and cornstarch is made from carbon dioxide and water.  PLA can be formed into several different products like you see on our website. 

What is the heat tolerance of PLA?
Normal heat tolerance of PLA is 110 degrees (F).  Remember to keep these products out of direct sunlight and in a cool, dry place.  Corn cutlery has a heat tolerance of 140 degrees, but all other corn plastic food containers and cups can only withstand temperatures of 110 degrees.  

How long does PLA take to biodegrade or compost?
PLA is fully compostable and biodegradable.  In commercial composting conditions, PLA will compost in approximately 30-45 days.  Composting may take longer in a home composting bin. 

If I throw PLA in the trash, will it biodegrade in a landfill?
Most landfills are not designed to allow biodegrading of their contents.  With that being said, PLA will react in landfills like other organic waste such as food.  PLA is fully compostable in a composting facility.  In addition, PLA is made from a renewable resource, CORN, instead of regular plastic that is made from oil.

Is PLA more or less expensive than regular plastic?
PLA is now becoming competitively priced with PET plastic.  For some products, such as cold cups, PLA is less expensive than PET.  For other products, PLA is the same or slightly more.  Since PLA is made from U.S.-grown corn, you can be confident that your money is going back in the U.S. economy rather than to overseas oil companies. 

What products are made out of PLA?
Products include cups, cutlery, food containers, trash bags and more.  Everyday new products are being produced and soon enough every plastic product will have a PLA counterpart. 

Questions about Bagasse (Sugarcane)

What is bagasse?
Bagasse is made from sugarcane.  Rather than throwing away or burning used sugarcane stalks, the pulp is made into a paper-like substance called bagasse.  Bagasse can be molded into different shapes and products that are perfect for food service. 

Is bagasse better for the environment than paper?
Many people consider bagasse to be more environmentally friendly than paper because it is derived from a very renewable resource, SUGARCANE.  Also, bagasse comes from the sugarcane stalk.  Rather than burn or throw away the used sugarcane stalks, they are used to make bagasse food service products.  That makes bagasse a very sustainable product!

How long does it take for bagasse to fully biodegrade and compost?
Bagasse is fully compostable and biodegradable.  In commercial composting conditions, bagasse will compost in approximately 45-60 days.  Composting may take longer in a home composting bin.

What is the heat tolerance of bagasse?
Bagasse is fully heat tolerant like paper.  Bagasse can even be put in the microwave.  As with paper, extremely hot food might cause bagasse to lose some of its strength, but bagasse is one of the only biodegradable food service products in the world that can handle hot temperatures. 

Can bagasse handle liquids and grease?
Bagasse will hold up to liquids and grease.  It is fully grease absorbent. 

Questions about Other Products 

Why don’t you have biodegradable lids for the biodegradable paper hot cups?
Unfortunately, biodegradable lids for hot cups are not produced anywhere in the world, yet.  This is a major gap in biodegradable products and we are confident that with the advanced technology being focused on these types of products, biodegradable hot cup lids will be manufactured soon.  When they begin to be produced, you can count on BE a GREEN company to be one of the first companies to carry them.

How long does it take for BioGrade cutlery to compost or biodegrade?
BioGrade biodegradable forks, spoons and knives are made from a combination of cellulose and limestone.  Being completely heat-stable, these utensils begin to breakdown upon entering a compost friendly environment with the right temperature and bacteria.  BioGrade utensils will biodegrade in approximately 90-120 days and are certified compostable according to DIN Certco test.  To speed composting time, we recommend breaking the cutlery in half prior to composting.