From Saving your Soups to Saving the Environment- the humble journey of Cornstarch
Corn starch, a favourite and must-have kitchen essential, is set to change the worst-ever epidemic faced by the world. Yes, you heard it right. The smooth-feeling, powdery, chalky humble kitchen ingredient that comes to your rescue for household cleaning, skincare, or to thicken your runny soups and sauces, making fluffier omelettes, giving your deep-fried foods a crispier coating, has also emerged as a superhero for the environment.
Let’s be real. The world is facing a crisis of plastic pollution. As of today, the world’s single-use plastic consumption is around 400 million tonnes. Our oceans are choking. Landfills are running out of space. And we still haven’t stopped using plastic. From carry bags to cutlery, single-use plastics have become one of the most challenging aspects of urban planning and waste management.
Research About Corn Starch Granules
Corn starch granules packaging aims to deal with exactly that. A 2017 study by Columbia University establishes that bioplastics, such as maize starch packaging, are more eco-friendly and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than their traditional plastic counterparts. While cornstarch packaging isn’t the panacea that is needed to combat plastic pollution, it is the hero the world needs right now to eliminate the ecological threat posed by single-use plastics. The USD 126.85 billion market of biodegradable cornstarch packaging market is testament to that!
Cornstarch plastic is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic and Styrofoam. Let’s know more!
What makes cornstarch plastic packaging a viable option?
Derived from the endosperm of corn kernels, corn starch is a known, edible source of carbohydrate in food groups. It is 100% starch with little to zero constituents, such as fibre, protein or fat. The packaging material, as the name suggests, is derived from corn starch and hence, both biodegradable and compostable.
Cornstarch packaging is also known as PLA packaging, bioplastic packaging or maize starch packaging across the world.
How is cornstarch packaging made?
The process of cornstarch packaging is as follows:
Cornstarch extraction from the endosperm of corn kernels using wet milling
Fermentation of plant sugars and starch into Polylactic Acid (PLA)
The PLA is mixed and moulded under specific heat temperatures as pellets.
Thermoforming or injection moulding is done to achieve desired grading-based designs, such as cutlery, food packages, produce trays, meat trays or clamshell containers.
The entire process itself requires little energy, is already being done on an industrial scale and is carbon-neutral.
Cornstarch containers are not only a viable alternative to plastic packaging, but also better in production quality. Since it is a plant-based plastic, it eliminates the harmful impact of toxins and microplastics that petroleum-based plastic products typically bring. Furthermore, under the right composting conditions, these require only a few months to compost, unlike their plastic counterparts, and double up as soil fertilisers.
Industry-wide usage of biodegradable corn starch packaging
The plant-based polymer packaging has quickly turned the tables on plastics owing to biodegradability and moulding capabilities. Here are a few ways that businesses are opting for biodegradable packaging made from corn starch to have reduced carbon footprints and sustainable business processes.
F&B industry: The food and beverage industry is opting for takeout containers, disposable plants, produce trays, meat trays and wrapping films instead of traditional plastic ones.
Retail and e-commerce industry: E-commerce, electronics and retail businesses are gradually switching to cornstarch grocery bags, blister packs, bubble wraps, trays and packaging items.
Consumer goods: Due to its moulding and non-toxic properties, corn starch packaging can pretty much be used to manufacture any item that is made of plastic, such as bags, films and even shoes.
Cost is no longer a barrier! Order affordable cornstarch granules from Biorgano
The primary and foremost challenge in adopting corn starch plastics has been the high manufacturing costs involved. At Biorgano, we are committed to changing that. By leveraging the latest technology, production processes and corn starch processing equipment, we are making cornstarch granules manufacturing more efficient and cost-effective than ever. As a leading corn starch granules manufacturer, we offer clean-label, non-GMO and organic options. Not only this, our partners can also customise the supply based on their packaging requirements and industry needs.
Rest assured, we supply corn starch granules in all industrial variants, in moisture-sealed and tamper-proof packaging to ensure quality and prolonged shelf-life.
Contact us today to learn more or place your order. Let Biorgano help your business become sustainable and eco-friendly without compromising on price or performance.