So far, we've discussed some single-use substitutes to plastic straws and utensils. First, we introduced PLA (poly lactic acid). After illustrating some of PLA's contributions to medical science, we concluded that its applicability to straw and utensil making was suboptimal due mainly to its inability to compost and biodegrade in a non-industrial setting.
Then, we described bagasse—or plant fiber—made applications. Ultimately, the presence of PLA might limit bagasse's biodegradation and ability to compost. How would PLA get into bagasse? Unfortunately, many producers use PLA as a compounding agent. Furthermore, a devastating brittleness plagues bagasse-made straws.
Bagasse's downsides aren't just limited to its inherent breakability. Bagasse is an agricultural by-product, as it's produced from plant fiber. Many times, the soil in which derived-from-bagasse-plants growing occurs, as well the surrounding environments, becomes a potentially dangerous culprit.
Both the soil and surrounding environment that comprises bagasse's production area can introduce a few possibly hazardous factors. These include proximity to pollutant-belching industrial centers, cultivators' fertilizer and pesticide use, and previous land uses for the soil in which bagasse fiber grows.
Bagasse-producing plants not native to certain areas may require heavy pesticide doses. Voracious pests to which introduced crops have no natural immunity would get a new food source. Additionally, because these crops originated from other locations and aren't used to the new environment's nutrients, farmers might require fertilizers. Troublingly, not all countries produce safe fertilizers, and toxins from these dangerous fertilizers tend to leach into plants growing in tainted soil.
Crops can also absorb toxins spewed from factories located downwind of crop plantations. Moreover, crops can absorb toxins from the toxic rainfall caused by factory smog accumulating in clouds.
And, if past factories occupied soil used for crop cultivation, heavy metals may linger. In addition, studies have shown that some bagasse may not be suitable for food contact due to toxin traces found in lab analysis. These toxins may have arrived in the bagasse from either rainfall or soil absorption.
All of these reasons confound bagasse use. Luckily, Lastic Bamboo Resin and its products are sustainably sourced and made from products that grow in their natural environment. The first ingredient, bio-based PBS, is derived from Thailand-grown cassava or sugarcane. Bio-based PBS's producers require strict, toxin-free soil conditions. The next components, starch and bamboo, are both sourced in Taiwan. The starch derives from taro and sweet potato that come from farms up to Lastic's standards. Finally, Lastic sources all of its bamboo from a farm in Taiwan's Zhushan Township, located in the landlocked Nantou County. This bamboo, called "ma bamboo," grows naturally in Zhushan. Thus, because ma bamboo has evolved in Zhushan's soil conditions, the farmers do not need to add fertilizer or pesticides for optimal growth.
Ultimately, Lastic Bamboo Resin and products are the best substitutes for single-use plastics like straws, utensils, and food boxes. And, Lastic's products exhibit more strength and effectiveness than anything bagasse-made. Contact Island Leaf Commodities for more information!
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