Plastic pollution is widely recognized as a threat to human and planetary health. There is a high level of public awareness and policymakers are increasingly using legislation to limit the production and use of plastic, with a significant focus on single-use products. Such increased recognition and legislation is creating a market for alternative materials such as bio-plastics which are made to look, feel, and perform like conventional plastics, but are derived from non-fossil-based feedstock, polylactic acid (PLA) the most common.

This briefing note assesses the extent to which PLA is a sustainable alternative to conventional, fossil-based single-use plastics.

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