Advantages of of PLA:

• PLA (polylactide) is a polymer that (unlike classic plastics) is obtained from purely biological materials (e.g. corn starch) and without the addition of petroleum.
• PLA a degradable bio-based plastic.
• The CO2 balance during production is significantly better than that of comparable petroleum-based plastics (e.g. PET).

But:

• PLA is compostable, i.e. it decomposes into its (purely biological) components within several months only in industrial composting plants (58°+).
• In domestic compost, PLA decomposes only very slowly. The duration of composting is usually a few months (but longer than the normal composting time, so PLA is perceived as a nuisance material in composting plants)
• Most composting facilities are not capable of composting PLA.
• In the sea PLA hardly decomposes and increases the pollution by mircoplasts.

However, from a purely ecological point of view, composting is not the most efficient way to recycle PLA.:

• PLA can be effectively recycled with mechanical and chemical methods.
• Composting is not recommended from an energetical and environmental point of view.
• Sorting and cleaning is particularly costly, therefore PLA waste is often not recycled.

Conclusion: From an environmental point of view, PLA waste stored in a pure form is a big step forward compared to ordinary plastic waste. In all other cases it depends on local factors (for example: Are there sorting plants that seperate the plastic waste?)

The reduction of (plastic) waste and the overall protection of the environment has been a prominent youth issue, at least since the Fridays for Future movement. Bioplastics are often used in an attempt to improve the eco-balance of a product. As the task shows, from an ecological point of view the use of PLA can only be advocated if an ecologically sensible recycling of the materials is subsequently guaranteed. For this reason, many companies, from start-ups to corporations, are now focusing on the recycling of PLA and comparable plastics.In addition to the synthesis of PLA, the further processing, e.g. through mechanical or chemical recycling, can also be discussed in the context of the plastics lesson, and local companies that have specialized in the further processing of bioplastics can also be presented.