Michigan State University’s School of Packaging is developing a new, compostable material to help cut down on waste.
Rafael Auras, a professor and researcher at MSU, believes that composting is a key component to reducing waste. Auras has been working for almost 20 years on biodegradable material, looking to create a plastic alternative that can be composted.
The base of the new material, being developed by the research team, is polylactic acid, also known as PLA. When the material is manufactured properly, the material’s byproducts are completely natural, breaking down into water, carbon dioxide, and lactic acid. Also, the researchers already know that PLA can break down easily via industrial composters.
