|
Paper |
Sugarcane/Bagasse |
PLA/CPLA/PHA |
Palm leaf |
Material |
Wood fibres |
Sugarcane pulp |
Synthesized from corn or potato starch |
Dried palm leaf |
Production |
Physical and chemical treatment of sawdust |
By-product of sugar cane production. Similar to paper production |
Made from lactic acid molecules |
Drying, pressing and cutting of naturally fallen Areca palm leaves |
Other Uses |
Countless |
Insulation material, Chemical industry, heating media |
Similar to conventional plastics: foils, composites, 3D printing |
None |
Formability |
Formability |
Formability |
Formability |
Restricted due to its natural shape |
Aesthetic |
Classic disposable feeling |
Neutral, white-beige, similar to paper. Classic disposable feeling |
Similar to conventional plastic |
Attractive, woody with grains |
Environmental footprint |
Critical (wood and water intensive, often coated with plastic or PLA) |
Average, as use of an agricultural by-product but very water intensive (similar to paper production) |
Critical (Intensive farming, intensive usage of agricultural area) |
Minimal, as it is agricultural waste |
Co2 balance |
No reliable data available (according to online comparison approx. 676 kg CO2 per ton) |
No reliable data available as variable depending on context |
No reliable data available as variable depending on context (according to manufacturer approx. 500 kg CO2 per ton) |
Minimal to neutral depending on disposal, because even when burned, only the CO2 that was in the leaf is released |
Regionality |
Partially |
Origin: tropics and subtropics, processing mainly in China |
Origin of raw materials usually USA, processing mainly in China |
origin:tropical |
Heat resistance |
Limited, depending on material thickness |
Until 120°C |
PLA until 40°C/CPLA until 85°C |
Until 180°C (30 Minutes) |
Fluid resistance |
Depending on coating & material thickness |
Depending on coating & material thickness |
Permanent |
Many hours |
Compostability |
Depending on coating |
Naturally compostable |
Naturally compostable |
Naturally compostable |