PE Films and Rollstock Configurations
Additional Features
Biodegradable Film
Comparisons of Oxo-Biodegradable LDPE vs. PLA
Life Cycle Analysis
OXO-LDPE
PLA
COMMENTS
FEEDSTOCK
Natural Gas
corn
building block of polyethylene (polymer) is ethylene C2H4 ( monomer)
PROCESS ENERGY REQUIRED TO POLYMERISE FEEDSTOCK INTO POLYMER
81 MJ / kg
34,825 BTU / POUND
34,825 BTU / POUND
56 MJ / kg
24,075 BTU / POUND
24,075 BTU / POUND
Net use of non-renewable resources is debatable
HOW TO TRANSPORT RESIN ?
Rail
Refrigerated Truck
PLA deforms at temperatures encountered in filling, shipping and storage
CONVERT ROLLSTOCK TO PRINTED PACKAGE
No new capital investment or learning curve
Requires extra passes, special equipment and handling
PLA better suited to rigid packaging than flexible film
TRANSPORT OF FINISHED PACKAGE
Truck
Refrigerated Truck
PLA must be transported in refrigerated truck or it will melt
HANDLING OF FINISHED PRODUCT
Truck
Refrigerated Truck
PLA not suitable for meat packaging, as meat will attack PLA
RECYCLABLE WITH CONVENTIONAL
STREAM ?
STREAM ?
YES
Cannot be recycled in existing recycling streams
END OF LIFE
Carbon dioxide and water
Carbon dioxide and water
PLA requires special designated composting facilities and also requires burning gasoline to transport the discarded product to the recycling facility.