Comments on: What Do You Think About Stonyfield Farm’s New PLA Yogurt Cups?

By: Noj

Noj — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:38:05 +0000

This is interesting,
I’m an avid 3d printer - a hobby which is growing quite rapidly with reprap derivative 3d printers becoming more and more affordable. the two main plastics we use with these machines is PLA and ABS. PLA normally being the preferred feedstock where our end object does not need to be heat resistant. it shrinks less as it cools, it’s uses a lower temp to print (normally around 185C), it smells like waffles when melted, and is supposedly biodegradable under the right conditions.

interesting point on the additives, I might check with my supplier to see if he knows what’s in the filament he sells. I’m lucky in NZ as we’ve got access to good filament, in the US though we’re (the community) having problems with getting plastic with a consistent diameter (normally 3mm and 1.75mm filament) of suitable quality at a competitive price.

Steve’s comments were very interesting too. hopefully we get more PLA recycling plants up and running.

there are a handful of projects attempting to make small (desktop) recycling plants to melt down and turn our failed prints into usable filament again, though I’ve yet to see one that is working well enough for us to use, progress does seem to be being made in this area.

By: kanishka

kanishka — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:50:32 +0000

point of information – stonyfield was long ago bought by dannon. there is a lot of controversy to what extent stonyfield has and/or will sell out. i don’t believe it’s values can peacefully coexist within a multinational profit machine. there is a pretty interesting old mother jones article about it

even fi we all dont’ have access to local glass container yogurt, there is almost always a local yogurt producer of some kind. i would trust them (as long as they are organic) more than i would stonyfield, if i had to choose. of course, i admire the make it at home people the most, i’m not there yet, but lucky to have glass yogurt local

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:20:02 +0000

Hello,

I am the Project Manager for PLA recycling at the Belgian recycling site you mentioned and I would like to bring more precision on this recycling technology.

To make PLA, we first need a source of sugar (corn, sugar beet, etc). This sugar is then converted into lactic acid (a liquid with a water-like appearance) that in turn, serves as raw material for the production of virgin PLA granulates. A plastic compounder will add charges and/or additives to give the material new properties and the end-user is eventually manufacturing the final product. End-consumer will buy it, use it and throw it.

Through chemical recycling, the waste is fully dissolved and all building blocks of the lactic acid are recovered in a highly purified form, perfectly suitable to manufacture virgin PLA with the exact same properties as the original one.

Unlike composting or incineration, the carbon material is NOT lost. Meaning that it is not necessary to go back to land use. The recycling process is also very energy-efficient and do not require harsh chemicals.

This is a state-of-the-art technology already online in Belgium but that it still in a learning curve for new technical applications for PLA are found almost every month.

Cordially,

By: Beverly

Beverly — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:35:30 +0000

This company, Stonyfield, needs to prove itself. Until it does, I’m making my own. I spend a lot on grocery and won’t give my allegiance until I see proof of safety and a “shenanigans-free corporate culture that takes manufacturing safety and human health seriously.” I talk with a lot of people about our food supply and people are really interested in this – we want corporations to deliver better.

By: Cheryl Newcomb

Cheryl Newcomb — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:19:21 +0000

Thank you Beth for this very complete information.

I have to agree with you that the very best thing is to avoid packaging altogether and make your own (Thank you so much for the “how to”) But alas, many of us live lives that dictate turning to ready made products for variety in our diet.

I have to admit, my own yougurt habit has me feeling guilty about the waste. And I am not crazy about eating anything that is out of plastic packaging and try to avoid it as much as I can.

So, why don’t they package yougurt in glass jars?

Furthermore, if all the plastic waste in the Gyres, and everywhere was glass instead, how would that impact our environment? What would happen?

By: Debra Baida

Debra Baida — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:17:15 +0000

As you wrote in the blogher version of this post: “The company came up with a list of several classes of chemicals and over 2,500 specific chemicals that would be banned from its containers.” Holy cow! How many other specific chemicals did they have to choose from!?

If production of foods like yogurt were more produced more regionally by these large companies, would re-usable glass jars be an option/incentive? Mind you, I don’t see these companies creating regional production facilities, but just imagine if things were truly more localized and shipped fewer miles and if they were the leaders in creating less waste…period.

I love St. Benoit here in the Bay Area and the simple fact that I have a teeny tiny piece of plastic to show for it when all is said and done. Sigh.

By: asrai

asrai — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:59:04 +0000

this is awesome becuase they say to feed your baby full fat yoghurt which doesn’t exsist in stores unless you buy the sweetened coloured stuff. Now if I can figure out how to stick it in a tube for my 8 year old …

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:52:25 +0000

Actually, paperboard containers are not coated with wax. They are lined inside and out with polyethylene: plastic. They have not been coated with wax since the 50′s, but most people think they still are.

By: Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green

Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:05:48 +0000

Just read Rob’s comment and Beth you may know better than me but aren’t ice cream containers paper lined with a petroleum based wax?

By: Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green

Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:02:08 +0000

I buy the big containers (normally just for my dog lol) and recycle them. I know it’s not perfect but considering I save them to go to a town 3 hours away a few times a year I think I’m doing better than most would haha.

I honestly thought the small ones were paper and wax (I knew the wax would be plastic based). I had never paid much attention as I normally get the big ones. And couldn’t they do that? Paper and like beeswax?

My mom makes her own yogurt and I would but I’m not a big yogurt eater anyway. I try to be but I’m not. My dog loves it though.

Anyway I always have mixed feelings on corn based plastic. It’s not recyclable, not always biodegradable (and nothing really is in the landfill where it will end up), and we are just wasting different resources with the corn and such.

Seems like at least for now using less and reusable items is what you have to do if you want to not waste. We like easy options but right now we don’t really have them.