Researchers create #plastic alternative that's #compostable in home and industrial settings

Story by Isabelle Butera, August 7, 2023

"The team worked with #polylactic acid, or #PLA, which has been used in packaging for over a decade. Instead of #petroleum (like typical plastic), it uses plant sugars and breaks down into water, carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

"But PLA can only break down in the heat of industrial #composters, not home composters. Even in industrial composters, PLA doesn't always break down quickly or completely.

"It can take as much as 20 days before PLA starts to be digested by microbes in an industrial compost setting, researchers said.

"To accelerate this process, the team incorporated what's called a 'thermoplastic starch' into PLA. This carbon-based starch helps the microbes in compost more easily break down the bioplastic.

"Adding the thermoplastic starch will not compromise the quality of PLA, such as the strength, clarity and other desirable features, researchers said in the release.

"Additionally, the bioplastic can be composted alongside food scraps. That means you wouldn't have to rinse food out of takeaway containers or coffee out of a disposable cup before throwing it out."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/researchers-create-plastic-alternative-that-s-compostable-in-home-and-industrial-settings/ar-AA1eUVo7?rc=1&ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=01880b7d92d94edcf8a04253ffe86689&ei=7

#PFAS #PFOS #WaterIsLife #FoodPackaging #Solutions

The “service” area of our #Allotment with a (part-finished) storage box for tools, and two “dalek” #Composters (probably the vanguard of the dalek invasion). Just covered the ground in that part with #woodchip because it was already looking like a 1970s rugby pitch.
And then we’ve got the compost to start 2 raised beds.
It’s beginning to come together. And since it’s been ours since only 1 November, im pleased with that much done.