What are the advantages and disadvantages of corn starch based PLA trays and sugarcane bagasse trays in terms of carbon footprint?

The advantages and disadvantages of corn starch based PLA trays and sugarcane bagasse trays in terms of carbon footprint can be comprehensively analyzed from the perspectives of raw material sources, production processes, degradation conditions, and environmental impact

1. Carbon footprint performance of corn starch based PLA tray

(1) Raw materials and production process
Corn starch is fermented and polymerized to produce PLA, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about 68% compared to traditional petroleum based plastics, and has a global warming potential (GWP) of only 500 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogram of PLA, which is 75% lower than traditional plastics.

(2) Degradation and treatment
PLA needs to be decomposed in industrial composting facilities (high temperature, high humidity)

2. Carbon footprint performance of sugarcane bagasse pallets

(1) Raw materials and production process
Sugarcane bagasse is a by-product of the sugar industry and belongs to the category of waste recycling, which avoids incineration pollution and has higher resource efficiency. Its production energy consumption is low, and there is no need to plant additional crops, reducing the risk of land expansion and deforestation.
Sugarcane itself is an efficient carbon sink crop with high yield per hectare and low greenhouse gas emissions during the planting process.

(2) Degradation and treatment
Sugarcane bagasse trays can be decomposed in household or industrial composting, taking only 30-60 days under industrial conditions, and the decomposition process has little impact on the acidity of the composting system.