Polylactic Acid (PLA): The Optimal Solution for China's Plastic Ban
In January 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control," which clarified the roadmap for the "plastic ban" of non-degradable, single-use plastic products. They advocated the development and promotion of high-performance, environmentally friendly, and affordable plastic products and alternatives, guided by the principles of "recyclability, easy recycling, and biodegradability." With the five-year deadline approaching, and the end of 2025 approaching, the interim results of China's plastic ban are about to be tested.
While the policy advocates the principles of "recyclability, easy recycling, and biodegradability," practical applications require selecting the most appropriate alternatives based on specific usage scenarios. For example, disposable tableware in China's dining environment is highly polluting, expensive to clean, and has low recycling value. Once released into the environment, it can also contribute to further pollution. In this context, biodegradable materials undoubtedly offer advantages.
Over the past few years, a variety of biodegradable materials have emerged on the market, including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT), polypropylene carbonate (PPC), and polyglycolic acid (PGA). However, considering the comprehensive advantages of technical maturity, economic feasibility, and environmental benefits, PLA remains the most suitable option for China's current situation.
PLA products can be directly composted along with food waste, where they completely decompose into carbon dioxide, water, and organic matter. The product can then be returned to the land as organic fertilizer or soil conditioner, creating a truly closed-loop system. Even if PLA products are accidentally released into the natural environment, they will eventually degrade and will not form persistent microplastics. Furthermore, PLA is a low-carbon material made from renewable plant materials such as corn and straw. Furthermore, PLA is recyclable and can be reused through physical recycling and chemical depolymerization, improving resource efficiency.
In the past, polylactic acid's high cost limited its application. However, with the continuous breakthroughs of Chinese companies, the polylactic acid industry chain has rapidly matured, enabling it to compete with traditional plastics. In contrast, other biodegradable materials either have unstable performance and fail to meet usage standards, or are too expensive to enter the mass consumer market. Polylactic acid offers a clear cost-effective advantage.
The "Decision of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on Deepening the Promotion of Ecological Civilization and Building Shanghai into a Model of Beautiful China" will officially take effect on September 1, 2025. This law prohibits and restricts the use of single-use plastic products and promotes the use of recyclable, easily recyclable, and biodegradable alternatives.
This is undoubtedly good news for the biodegradable materials sector. However, some media outlets have recently hyped up Shanghai's ban on polyethylene and polylactic acid coated products, promoting acrylic water-based coated paper cups as more environmentally friendly. Multiple sources have confirmed that this claim is a complete misinterpretation of the policy, and the advertised recyclability and recyclability of these water-based coated paper cups is a falsehood. Furthermore, acrylic water-based coatings are expensive and completely uncompetitive.
We know that biodegradable disposable paper cups, as restaurant waste, have no recycling value and will not enter the recycling system. Whether landfilled or incinerated, they ultimately become carbon dioxide and water. Compared to petroleum-based acrylic water-based coatings, polylactic acid coatings have lower carbon emissions and produce virtually no harmful substances like dioxins during incineration, making them more environmentally friendly.
The biomaterial polylactic acid not only has favorable environmental properties but also demonstrates its potential for large-scale deployment in terms of economics and applicability. Under current technological and market conditions, polylactic acid-based disposable lunch boxes, cutlery, straws, coated paper cups, tape, and other products offer the best solution that balances policy requirements, enterprise costs, and environmental benefits, making a significant contribution to China's "dual carbon" goals and the fight against plastic pollution.
