Paper, PLA, bagasse or plastic: what each one is for
Four materials, four different jobs. What each is made of, what it handles, and how it is disposed of.
"Eco-friendly" is not a material. These four are, and each suits a different order.
Paper and board
Sourced only from responsible forestry, so no old growth forest is used. It is what our bags, boxes, trays, plates and the outside of every paper cup are made of.
PLA (polylactic acid)
A bioplastic made from plants — corn, tapioca, potato. It is a rapidly renewable resource and can be certified industrially compostable. We offer it as CPLA (crystallised PLA, which takes more heat) and as a lining on paper packaging.
Sugarcane (bagasse)
Bagasse is the fibre left over after sugarcane is pressed, so the packaging is made from something that was already a by-product. It can be certified compostable at home or industrially.
Plastic
PET, polystyrene and polypropylene, for cups, lids and bowls. Every item carries a Plastics Identification Code between 1 and 7, which says which plastic it is — worth reading before you tell a customer how to dispose of it.
Choosing between them
Ask three questions: how hot does the contents get, is the item being composted or recycled where you are, and does the customer need to see through it. Send us those three answers with your order and we will quote the material that fits.