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Applications of Poly(lactic Acid) in Commodities and Specialties

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Industrial Applications of Poly(lactic acid)

Part of the book series: Advances in Polymer Science ((POLYMER,volume 282))

Abstract

The use of oil-derived polymers has been of great benefit to mankind, but it is evident that it causes considerable damage to the ecosystem. Public concern about the environmental impact of wastes is growing day by day and waste management methods are limited as are petroleum resources, so it is very important to find substitutes, particularly in those applications where a relatively short lifetime can be forecast, such as packaging and agriculture. This has led to research work to find new biodegradable polymers as an alternative to conventional non-degradable ones. Among bio-based totally biodegradable polymers, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has been studied for use in different fields because of its compostability and renewability. In this chapter, information on the present situation and trends regarding the applications of PLA is offered. The use of life cycle assessment principles helps to quantify the environmental benefits of PLA polymers. Most recent developments with PLA in the field of packaging show how this plastic material is moving from commodity to specialty applications, facing competition from polyolefins, particularly as barrier polymers for shelf-life enhancement.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto per i Polimeri, Compositi e Biomateriali, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, NA, Italy

    Mario Malinconico

  2. NatureWorks B.V., P.O. Box 5528, 1410EA, Naarden, The Netherlands

    Erwin T. H. Vink & Andrea Cain

Authors
  1. Mario Malinconico
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  2. Erwin T. H. Vink
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  3. Andrea Cain
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mario Malinconico .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council, Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, Pozzuoli, Italy

    Maria Laura Di Lorenzo

  2. Interdisciplinary Center for Transfer-Oriented Research in Natural Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany

    René Androsch

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Malinconico, M., Vink, E.T.H., Cain, A. (2018). Applications of Poly(lactic Acid) in Commodities and Specialties. In: Di Lorenzo, M., Androsch, R. (eds) Industrial Applications of Poly(lactic acid). Advances in Polymer Science, vol 282. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/12_2017_29

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