Community | April 18, 2010 | 38 comments

(PLA) Plant material in Sun Chips bags made from genetically modified corn?!

source: http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/pla.htm

Image
JanforGore
Polylactic acid (PLA), a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch (usually corn) is quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. As more and more countries and states follow the lead of China, Ireland, South Africa, Uganda and San Francisco in banning plastic grocery bags responsible for so much so-called “white pollution” around the world, PLA is poised to play a big role as a viable, biodegradable replacement.

PLA Helps to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Proponents also tout the use of PLA—which is technically “carbon neutral” in that it comes from renewable, carbon-absorbing plants—as yet another way to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases in a quickly warming world. PLA also will not emit toxic fumes when incinerated.

PLA Biodegrades Slowly Unless Subjected to Industrial Composting

But critics say that PLA is far from a panacea for dealing with the world’s plastic waste problem. For one thing, although PLA does biodegrade, it does so very slowly.

According to Elizabeth Royte, writing in Smithsonian, PLA may well break down into its constituent parts (carbon dioxide and water) within three months in a “controlled composting environment,” that is, an industrial composting facility heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and fed a steady diet of digestive microbes. But it will take far longer in a compost bin, or in a landfill packed so tightly that no light and little oxygen are available to assist in the process. Indeed, analysts estimate that a PLA bottle could take anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill.

Recyclers Can’t Mix PLA and Other Plastics

Another issue with PLA is that, because it is of different origin than regular plastic, it must be kept separate when recycled, lest it contaminate the recycling stream. Being plant-based, PLA needs to head to a composting facility, not a recycling facility, per se, when it has out served its usefulness. And that points to another problem: There are currently only 113 industrial-grade composting facilities across the United States.

Most PLA Uses Genetically Modified Corn

Another downside of PLA is that it is typically made from genetically modified corn, at least in the United States. The largest producer of PLA in the world is NatureWorks, a subsidiary of Cargill, which is the world’s largest provider of genetically modified corn seed.

With increasing demand for corn to make ethanol fuel, let alone PLA, it’s no wonder that Cargill and others have been tampering with genes to produce higher yields. But the future costs of genetic modification to the environment and human health are still largely unknown and could be very high.

cont.
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  2. tags:
    Environment,  Climate Change,  GMOs,  Deforestation,  12 more
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38 comments // (PLA) Plant material in Sun Chips bags made from genetically modified corn?!

  • feefer2010
    • +1
      feefer2010  

    • Corn is great but it's not going to solve all of our problems. I'm sure there are other ways to make eco friendly packaging and bio fuels

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Just went on their Facebook page and asked them the same questions. Let's see if someone gets back to me. A little transparency would be nice.

    • 2 years ago
  • cutee_leslie
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  

    • http://travesty.an

      BT genetically modified corn has been shown by scientists to cause inferitlity and liver and kidney damage in mammals. It has also contributed to transgenically polluting the traditional corn varieties of Mexico, and has also been a factor in deforestation ( a major contributor of climate change) for biofuel, animal feed, and putting small farmers who don't get subsidies to grow Monsanto faux corn out of business. It is also a monoculture crop grown by using fossil fuel intensive industrial agricultural methods pushed by companies like Monsanto just for profit. To even THINK of using this in the packaging for a product and daring to call it green, and then launch it on Earth Day of all days is a travesty. And I don't give a damn what certain anklebiters here think about that opinion.

    • 2 years ago
  • artemis6
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • Image

    • http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-12-ask-umbra-truth-corn-plastic
      EXCERPT:

      I have a bit of scandale for you with these compostable plastic containers. The clear plastic #7 (which really just means "other") cups and deli containers are made with PLA, which is usually a corn derivative but could also come from cane sugar. I was all ready to dork out on the science of PLA, polylactic acid, but then I read this: "Instead, lactic acid is oligomerized and then catalytically dimerized to make the cyclic lactide monomer." The weather is too nice to spend time unraveling those polymers. Suffice to say they bacterially ferment the corn, then do all sorts of other stuff to stabilize it and turn it into a plastic. They can then make cups, fabrics, upholstery ... but who are "they"?

      PLA is manufactured by agribiz giant Cargill at a plant in Blair, Nebraska. Cargill is a major player in the genetically modified corn market, is apparently the world's largest grain handler, and operates its PLA product division under the name NatureWorks. The long and short of it is that this "green" plastic is made from GMO corn by one of the largest private companies in the United States, one with a terrible track record on environmental issues. Here is a useful overview of the Cargill-corn plastic connection that our own Tom Philpott penned a few years back. There are actual mini-scandals regarding Cargill and PLA, such as them trying to make a partnership with Patagonia for a PLA fleece. Somehow they neglected to mention the GMO corn behind the whole product.

      So when we use these cups, we are supporting GMO crops and industrial ag. And we are not necessarily creating less waste; yes, the cups are biodegradable, but only in commercial composting facilities or other composts that reach 150 degrees with 90 percent humidity. So even if you composted in your apartment -- which you could! -- you likely would not have the right conditions. And there are problems with recycling corn plastic too -- check with your friendly JP recyclers to see what they prefer. In the end, these cups can be equal to some products made from oil-based plastic: you just throw them out.

      The only lifecycle assessment I could find was obviously pro-Cargill, so I can't say how much petroleum it takes to make them. But I can say that products from conventional corn, a petroleum-intensive crop, are not the magic bullet. The magic bullet is to bring your own cup (on your bike, of course).

    • 2 years ago
  • futuregen
  • JanforGore
  • diode
  • KFre
  • JanforGore
    • +3
      JanforGore  

    • Just to clear something up for some: NOWHERE in this post did I ever state I was against making packaging out of plant based materials. MY questions revolve around GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN being used as an ingredient in them for obvious reasons that these people would know if they are following the news regarding GMOS and the reported results of testing on them and their effects on other crops and health in respect to being used as compost. But of course, don't address the questions I asked, just misconstrue them and my intent in asking them in your zeal to prove whatever it is you are aiming to prove about yourself. No surprise on this site.

    • 2 years ago
  • bombastinator
  • JonRaymond
  • likeamazing
  • PhenomCat
    • +3
      PhenomCat  

    • I hope people don't throw these out the window thinking it isn't littering somehow... I am kinda bummed about this though. Knew it was too good to be true..

    • 2 years ago
  • suzane
  • Kurta
    • +5
      Kurta  

    • I've been at odds with the green trend that has become so popular in almost every industry. It's a shame that most advertised products that claim to be "green" have quite a negative backstory. Here we go again. Another company giving in to the gulibility of comsumers with the best of intentions. We shouldn't have to pour over lab documents and reports just to buy something like chips or soap.

    • 2 years ago
  • bombastinator
    • -1
      bombastinator  

    • so the actual article is about how PLA doesn't actually decompose and isn;t about the GM nature of it at all but the headline is only about the
      GM nature and doesn't talk about the article at all.

      If you want credibility for your movement you need to behave in a credible fashion. This behavior doesn't say "GMs are dangerous", it says, "I'm so fixated about GMs I'm not paying any attention to what people are actually saying". This is the opposite of credible.

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • +1
      JanforGore  
    • bombastinator:

      "Most PLA Uses Genetically Modified Corn

      Another downside of PLA is that it is typically made from genetically modified corn, at least in the United States. The largest producer of PLA in the world is NatureWorks, a subsidiary of Cargill, which is the world’s largest provider of genetically modified corn seed.

      With increasing demand for corn to make ethanol fuel, let alone PLA, it’s no wonder that Cargill and others have been tampering with genes to produce higher yields. But the future costs of genetic modification to the environment and human health are still largely unknown and could be very high."
      _______-
      Try reading once in a while.

    • 2 years ago
  • bombastinator
    • -2
      bombastinator  
    • JanforGore:

      Well of course it does. it's a non food based corn product. So does corn for gasoline and whatnot. It's not like you're actually eating the bag are you? (..are you? you really shouldn't you know..)

      as for my actual comment on how hijacking an article about something comletely different to attempt to push your agenda hurts rather than helps that agenda, I think you've supported it rather than detracted from it.

      As for the accusation that I do not read, I apparently read your statement closer than you read mine.

    • 2 years ago
  • csmonut
    • +2
      csmonut  

    • I saw this ad...Knew it to be false even without the details. If they are making it out of a corn based product, it has to be GM.
      Thanks for supplying the details, Jan.

    • 2 years ago
  • unimatrix0
    • +3
      unimatrix0  

    • Sun Chips has their hands so far up Current's ass it isn't even funny - the whole place has gone to shit w/ ridiculous posts that linger for days on the top 20 and annoying video ads starting up without warning.

    • 2 years ago
  • parisinla
  • bombastinator
    • 0
      bombastinator  
    • unimatrix0:

      I will agree that the .current ad model does need to be worked on a bit. The whole ninja background sound out of nowhere thing is quite disconcerting. At least they stopped it with the news articles too. That one was driving me nuts. If the ad model keeps current in the black though I'm willing to put up with it for the time being as long as they leave me my mute button.

      I don't know about the hands and asses thing in this case. Standard procedure in a media company, which I am assuming i ein followed, is for advertising sales and editorial to be in completely different sections of a company so one cannot have any control over the other. It doesn't always work, (see the film the insider for an awesome example) but it's generally effective.

    • 2 years ago
  • bombastinator
  • Null81
  • TasteHi
  • pjacobs51
  • JanforGore
    • +5
      JanforGore  
    • pjacobs51:

      GMOS are scary, and any company using them in any way needs to answer as to why they are. So I'm not scared to ask the questions, I'm more scared of what happens down the road if we don't.

    • 2 years ago
  • kaps145
  • parisinla
  • treewolf39
  • JanforGore
    • +3
      JanforGore  

    • I agree and I am also tired of being deceived by companies that call what they do green when it is really greenwashing. I find it hard to believe this company does not know what is going into the PLA in its bags. And if they do, they should do the ethical thing and make it without tthe GMO ingredients. I just want answers here, because I am almost sure they didn't do tests to see how this bag decomposting would effect seeds and food grown using them as compost.

    • 2 years ago
  • bailey78
    • +1
      bailey78  

    • Damn you just had to tell me that didn't you? Now I have to find some other crap to eat when I have the Munchies. I guess it's back to organic veggies for a while. I need to flush my system anyway. this is as good a time as any. Do ya know how hard it is to find a snack that is both good tasteing and good for you? My body is going go through a Kick when I quit eating this crap. Damn my A.D.D. is bad this morning

    • 2 years ago
  • masterzip
    • +3
      masterzip  

    • i know a lot of americans love over processed, salty, sugary, fatty and genetic altering foods....
      if continued overtime.....look for our guinea pig population to be victims in a class action lawsuit in the future,..like so many products that previously went down this route.

      avoid food that has been process at all costs, for sake of health

    • 2 years ago
  • maurajriordan
    • +3
      maurajriordan  

    • the whole thing sounded like it was too good to be true since sun chips themselves aren't really that good for you. . . unfortunately I'm not surprised

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • +4
      JanforGore  

    • Is anyone going to address this? Especially with the scientific reports coming out that GMOs are harmful to mammals? Are you telling me that the PLA starch in these bags that people will be told they can compost to put on their food crops which in many instances will be organic, will be made from genetically modified corn? Does the company even know how that will affect soil regarding bacteria levels. nutrients, quality of food grown using that as compost? Ever heard of transgenic contamination?

      We will have genetically modified corn bags decomposting into soil all over this country? Now don't tell me that there isn't also GM (BT) corn in the product as well since 90% of the corn grown in the US is genetically modified.

      How can any company then tout that as being green also in light of the deforestation taking place in growing these monocultures?

      Anyone?

    • 2 years ago
  • parisinla
    • 0
      parisinla  
    • JanforGore:

      we already have massive transgenic contamination issues in our water bodies... This is something we're going to have to get used too. I'm not warm to the idea of genetically modified foods. but i think that this is a greatly acceptable alternative to Poly Fossil Plastics that we are going to run out of resources for anyway.

    • 2 years ago
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