CenturyLabel is invested in promoting the wellness and sustainability of the environment without sacrificing the quality of our products. EarthFirst® Films has developed a unique corn-based polylactic acid polymer (PLA) which is more environmentally friendly than the traditional petroleum-based plastics. The PLA is created when No. 2 yellow dent field corn is fermented which turns sugar into lactic acid. The lactic acid is then converted into a polymer plastic.
PLA products are recyclable and can be used in industrial composting. Another alternative to recycling or reusing products is industrial incineration which should be carried out through at industrial site that specializes in safe incineration. If industrial recycling is not a viable option, when taken to the landfill our eco-friendly tags, labels and shrink sleeves will not release harmful toxins that leach into the soil. We strongly advocate that the corn-based products be recycled. Although the science of corn-based polymers is advancing, our eco-friendly tags, labels and shrink sleeves will not biodegrade under normal residential conditions.
Corn-based plastics are essentially more cost-effective than petroleum-based plastics. During the production of PLA products, fossil fuel use is reduced by 65% and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 80% when compared to the production of traditional plastics. Our labels, tags and shrink sleeves are made from an annually renewable resource and are processed using green technology.