Polylactide, also know as polylactic acid or PLA, is a renewable, biodegradable, fully sustainable plastic derived from organic sources such as corn starch, and sugar cane, which has the potential to be used as an alternative to unsustainable, petroleum-based plastics derived from finite resources. Globally, 95% of the plastics are created from traditional petroleum-based plastics, PLA requires 65% less energy to produce than these, whilst emitting 68% fewer greenhouse gases.
The process of making PLA is as follows: firstly, the organic material, for example corn starch must be converted into sugar, which is then fermented, creating lactic acid. Lactic acid is then converted into lactide which bond together to create polymers, resulting in small pieces of raw material polylactic acid plastic which can be converted into a material which can be used in a series of industries including landscape architecture.
Furthermore, PLA is a thermoplastic, meaning it is mouldable and malleable once heated to its melting temperature, however, it can also be solidified and injection-moulded into various forms, hence its versatility means it can be 3D printed, making it a top contender to be used in position of traditional plastics.
Currently in landscape architecture PLA is commonly used in mesh sheeting for weed control and tubes, though its applications have the potential to be much more varied.
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