Is PLA plastic? Bioplastics explained

Yes, PLA is plastic. It's made from plants rather than oil, but it's the same kind of material: long synthetic polymer chains. Under our definition of plastic, what a plastic is made from doesn't change what it is.

What PLA is

PLA (polylactic acid) is made by fermenting plant sugars, usually from corn or sugar cane, and turning the result into a polymer. It's used for tea bag mesh, disposable cups, cutlery, packaging film and 3D printing.

"Bio-based" is not the same as "biodegradable"

• Bio-based describes what a material is made from.
• Biodegradable describes whether it breaks down, and how fast depends on the conditions.
• Compostable usually means it breaks down in an industrial composting facility at high temperatures, not in a garden compost heap.

Most PLA needs industrial composting, which UK household food-waste collections generally don't provide. In a bin or the environment, it can persist for a long time.

Other names to watch for

"Plant-based plastic", "bioplastic", "compostable plastic" and "made from corn" often mean PLA or similar materials. Bio-PE is chemically the same as ordinary polyethylene, just made from plants.

What we recommend

Treat bioplastics as plastic. Where it touches your food or drink, especially when hot, choose glass, steel, wood or paper without a plastic coating.