PLA, or polylactic acid, is produced by bacterial fermentation process using various substrates like corn, sugar cane. Most PLA is made from corn which is one of the most available sugars globally. PLA is mainly obtained from lactic acid that can be produced from renewable materials. The synthesis process of PLA is completed using a polycondensation reaction starting from lactic acid.

PLA has emerged as an alternative to petrochemical plastics as the world is looking for biodegradable packaging that is safe and environmentally friendly. Because PLA requires less energy to produce than petroleum-based plastics and emits less greenhouse gases, it has been proposed as a renewable and degradable plastic. PLA can degrade in an industrial composter with specific environmental conditions. And the process can be expedited if heat and decomposing organisms are added.

Nowadays, PLA is commercially viable and is a potential material in a wide range of applications.

Food-packing: Due to its nontoxic nature, PLA is developed as a favorable material in food and beverage industries. PLA has been tested under different conditions to evaluate its safety when it is used in contact with food. It is found that PLA releases a small amount of lactic acid into food.

Medical: Being thermoplastic and biodegradable, PLA and its copolymers have been used extensively in medical and biological field. They are attractive materials for including tissue engineering, drug delivery, medical implants and bone fixation devices.

Printings: With good mechanical properties like tensile strength, PLA is a preferred choice for 3D printing. Rapid prototyping is typically done with PLA because it is easy to print and can be handled by FDM machines.

PLA has been a versatile biobased polymer with ever increasing applications and demands for larger production.