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Yorkshire Tea claims "most of the bag is made from natural fibres like wood pulp and the seal is made with PLA - an industrially compostable, plant-based plasti

Yorkshire Tea claims "most of the bag is made from natural fibres like wood pulp and the seal is made with PLA - an industrially compostable, plant-based plastic" > In environments above 60°C, such as in hot liquids or high-heat exposure, PLA can begin to leach additives or degrade into its lactic acid monomers Why the fuck are these sodding tic tacs putting 3D printer plastic into tea bags that will be thrown into boiling water?! https://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/our-packaging https://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/our-packaging

cyberpunk 2y ago
Challenge accepted; I will endeavour to include the phrase “sodding tic tacs” into a Christmas dinner conversation. Top marks.
wiml 2y ago
Because it's literally a polymer of lactic acid? It's safe enough that they use it for medical implants because its degradation products already exist in the body? (Or is this a sarcastic response along the lines of "didn't you know it contains dihydrogen monoxide, a chemical widely used in nuclear reactors and military applications!"?)
perihelions 2y ago
- "degrade into its lactic acid monomers" Pretty sure this is benign. Apparently they use this polymer for medical implants, for a type designed to slowly dissolve: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid#Medical https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid#Medical
- moffkalast 2y ago
  Well that's interesting, I presumed the so called biodegradability of PLA was more of a joke since you need to compost it, but the body is fairly warm I suppose. Regardless the problem is not the plastic itself, but the plasticizers and other additives that leech out once you decompose it from what I understand. For medical use I would expect it's fairly stringent on what goes into it, but for something like tea bags I'm less sure.
leptons 2y ago
>Why the fuck are these sodding tic tacs putting 3D printer plastic into tea bags PLA was around long before 3D printers became known to everyone under 30 years of age. It was first discovered in the 1920s by Wallace Carothers.
ok654321 2y ago
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surge 2y ago
Because PLA is made from sugar, funny enough, if use PLA from Europe to 3D print it smells like cotton candy (cause made from cane sugars) whereas PLA in the US smells like popcorn (because made from corn syrup). It's also why its completely biodegradable, if you leave it outside, bacteria and UV light will eventually break it down, its also why its not a good material for anything exposed to environmental elements or something that needs to be durable for a long period of time. Its fine for most things, including biodegradable cups and straws. All that said, its probably the least toxic of the plastics considering its source. PLA has been around for a while, its not new with 3D printers, its just commonly used for 3D printers because it has excellent properties for 3D printing.

cyberpunk 2y ago

Challenge accepted; I will endeavour to include the phrase “sodding tic tacs” into a Christmas dinner conversation. Top marks.

wiml 2y ago

Because it's literally a polymer of lactic acid? It's safe enough that they use it for medical implants because its degradation products already exist in the body? (Or is this a sarcastic response along the lines of "didn't you know it contains dihydrogen monoxide, a chemical widely used in nuclear reactors and military applications!"?)

perihelions 2y ago

- "degrade into its lactic acid monomers" Pretty sure this is benign. Apparently they use this polymer for medical implants, for a type designed to slowly dissolve: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid#Medical https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid#Medical

moffkalast 2y ago
Well that's interesting, I presumed the so called biodegradability of PLA was more of a joke since you need to compost it, but the body is fairly warm I suppose. Regardless the problem is not the plastic itself, but the plasticizers and other additives that leech out once you decompose it from what I understand. For medical use I would expect it's fairly stringent on what goes into it, but for something like tea bags I'm less sure.

leptons 2y ago

>Why the fuck are these sodding tic tacs putting 3D printer plastic into tea bags PLA was around long before 3D printers became known to everyone under 30 years of age. It was first discovered in the 1920s by Wallace Carothers.

ok654321 2y ago

[dead]

surge 2y ago

Because PLA is made from sugar, funny enough, if use PLA from Europe to 3D print it smells like cotton candy (cause made from cane sugars) whereas PLA in the US smells like popcorn (because made from corn syrup). It's also why its completely biodegradable, if you leave it outside, bacteria and UV light will eventually break it down, its also why its not a good material for anything exposed to environmental elements or something that needs to be durable for a long period of time. Its fine for most things, including biodegradable cups and straws. All that said, its probably the least toxic of the plastics considering its source. PLA has been around for a while, its not new with 3D printers, its just commonly used for 3D printers because it has excellent properties for 3D printing.