|
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 |
56 MJ / kg
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 ?
|
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. |
