5. Applications and examples

5.1 Food products

Today, PLAs are mainly used for food applications.

Food packaging: thermoformed trays, foamed or not, and plastic films. This type of packaging can be found partly in supermarkets and partly in fast-food outlets, mainly for foods with a short shelf life. PLA's low water barrier limits its use as shelf-stable packaging. PLA can also be used as an intermediate layer in multilayer products, or in blends with other polymers.

Cups: PLA is used to produce disposable cups. These can be collected after use, notably for events (e.g. festivals)...