Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA), which was once praised as a savior of "mother nature" because of its biomass content and biodegradability, is now struggling because of harsh price competition against commodity plastics. Furthermore, some odd properties of PLA have made this bioplastic misunderstood as problematic. Thus, considering PLA as only a substitute for conventional plastics because of its eco-friendliness, it appears to have few advantages. In fact, the world annual production capacity of PLA is still 185 thousand tons, which is far smaller than that of other plastics. However, the odd properties of PLA could be its unique advantages. What if the unique properties of PLA can generate benefits for consumers? Actually, there are several such applications for PLA, including 3D printer filament, fracking water for shale gas, tea bags, and wallpaper. For these products, PLA was chosen because of the unique properties that are superior to those of other plastics. Meanwhile, the eco-friendliness of PLA works as an effective incentive for consumers to purchase the products. The combination of practical benefits and an eco-friendly image can make PLA more competitive in the market.
