As more companies lean on bio-based plastics due to recycling concerns, a new report warns the environmental pros don’t yet outweigh the cons.
The report, released Wednesday by nonprofit Plastic Pollution Coalition and consulting firm Eunomia, criticizes the most common bioplastic, polylactic acid (PLA), for creating “confusion” on its biodegradability status and its harmful chemical emissions.
report, released Wednesday
Plastics have increasingly been under scrutiny for their low recycling rates and reliance on petrochemicals made from fossil fuels.
Increasingly more companies are opting for PLA, primarily made from corn starch in the U.S., to replace cutlery, cups, packaging and other single-use plastics. The report estimates only about 1 percent of all plastics produced are bioplastics, and about one-fifth of those bioplastics are PLA.
