FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Find frequently asked questions about our products, material and company. Additionally you can find information on distributors and our shop here. Any questions left? Contact us!
PLA
PLA (polylactic acid) is a bioplastic made from fermented corn starch. It is derived from renewable resources and widely used in medical and laboratory applications.
Yes. PLA is classified as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. All our products are certified non-cytotoxic and endotoxin-free.
Currently, fossil-fuel based-polymers disposal involves incineration, landfill, and mechanical recycling. PLA can also be disposed of using these methods, while still retaining its environmental advantage.
Additionally, if the necessary infrastructure is in place and there are no restricted cells, viruses, or chemicals involved, PLA can be composted in less than 50 days under specific conditions (60°C, 95% humidity) or undergo chemical or mechanical recycling.
No. PLA is a refined polymer produced from plant-derived sugars. There are no visible or residual plant components in the final product.
The recommended operating temperature for PLA is between -80°C and 40°C.
We recommend using all products within 2 years from the date of production and store products sunlight protected.
PLA is made from fermented corn starch, a renewable resource. As the plants grow, they absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere, helping offset emissions. At the end of life, typically through incineration, only part of the released carbon is considered added, since much was originally captured by the plants.
Additionally, our advanced 3D printing process for the CellScrew® uses less material – up to 80% less compared to injection molding – further reducing the carbon footprint.
The product carbon footprint was calculated using the cradle-to-customer plus end-of-life approach. Emissions along the following life cycle phases were taken into account:
- Extraction and pre-processing of raw materials and packaging,
- production,
- delivery of the product to the customer’s door,
- and relevant disposal emissions of the product and packaging.
The following graphic displays a comparison of the composition of carbon dioxide emissions between the 96-well microPLAte and a polystyrene plate. If you have questions regarding the life cycle assessment, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Savings depend on product and disposal method. Detailed comparisons are available in our life cycle assessment documents (Product Carbon Footprint report) available on the product pages.
