Corn plastic is a biodegradable plastic alternative that is also food safe.
A lot of plastic that is used ends up sitting in the landfill.
This draws a lot of attention to corn plastic because people don’t have to toss it in the garbage when they are done.
Instead, they can place it in their compost knowing it’s completely safe.
One of the neat things to know about corn plastic is that it was invented purely out of necessity.
It’s very easy to make, and you don’t need your own factory to make corn plastic.
You can easily make corn plastic at home, and you likely already have the ingredients needed in your pantry.
Have you ever wanted to make biodegradable corn plastic? You’ve come to the right page.
This step-by-step guide is going to tell you everything you need to know.
What is biodegradable corn plastic?
The technical name for corn plastic is polylactic acid.
While most plastics are made from petroleum (a non-biodegradable ingredient), this plastic uses fermented corn starch instead.
This means that the final result is food-safe and it can even be passed as edible (although we don’t recommend eating it as a snack).
What you need to make biodegradable corn plastic
Tools:
- Microwave
- Microwave safe dish
- Measuring spoon
- Whisk
Ingredients:
- Water- 1.5 tbsp
- Cooking oil- 3 to 5 drops
- Corn starch- 1 tbsp
How to make biodegradable corn plastic
Are you ready to make your first batch of biodegradable corn plastic? You won’t believe how easy it is.
Get your ingredients and tools ready, and follow the directions below.
- Measure all of your ingredients and place them in the microwave safe dish.
- Whisk all of your ingredients together thoroughly until you have a milky-looking mixture.
- Set the microwave on high and place the mixture in there for 25 to 30 seconds. We recommend staying nearby to keep an eye on it.
- As the mixture heats up, it should begin to bubble and look more transparent.
- Take the dish out of the microwave and allow the mixture to cool. You will want to wait until it is cool enough to touch, but don’t allow it to cool all the way or you may have trouble kneading it.
- Once the plastic is at the right handling temperature, you can form it into whatever shape you want. Always allow the plastic to set for at least 24 hours after being formed. This will allow the plastic to fully cure.
- Try to avoid allowing the surface to fully dry out as the plastic cures.
Have fun with your biodegradable corn plastic
Corn plastic is so easy and affordable to make, and it’s far from boring.
Once you fully understand how to make the mixture, you can start to have some fun with it.
The final result is clear plastic, but you may not want clear for all of your crafts.
You can use food coloring or food dye to easily color your plastic.
There are many crafts you can make with corn plastic, and you don’t have to stop at coloring to make the plastic eye-catching.
You can also add things like glitter, dried flowers, and other embellishments for a fun corn plastic design.
What can be made with corn plastic?
Corn plastic is a great substitute for poly resin or any other type of plastic used for making crafts.
Most local and online craft stores have several molds for making different plastic crafts.
This includes things like:
- Keychains
- Soap dishes
- Decorative boxes ; pots
- Hair accessories
- Jewelry
- Coasters
- Trays
- Frames ; more
It’s not just people who enjoy making crafts that have found the use of corn plastic.
Many manufacturing companies are even using biodegradable corn plastic for use when making airbags.
Can corn plastic be recycled?
When you’re finished with your corn plastic, you don’t have to toss it in the garbage bin.
Corn plastic is eco-friendly, so you can either recycle it or put it in your compost bin to break down.
However, one thing to keep in mind about corn plastic is that it will not break down in a backyard composting bin to make matter for your garden.
Corn plastic can only be broken down under the high heat supplied from commercial composting systems.
It will not break down in your backyard bin because they are often packed very tightly, which doesn’t allow light or air to get through.
Is corn plastic expensive?
Unlike a lot of other biodegradable plastics, corn plastic is very inexpensive to make.
You can make a batch at home using less than a dollar’s worth of supplies.
Corn starch is the main ingredient, which is very low cost in most grocery markets.
Final thoughts
Making your own biodegradable corn plastic is very easy, especially when you have this step-by-step guide to walk you through the process.
Once you learn how to make the plastic mixture and get the ratios right, you can easily make your very own corn plastic items.
Corn plastic is a great substitution when you don’t want to spend a lot of money on poly resin supplies.
You can still make fun plastic items while staying under budget and being environmentally friendly.
There’s a good chance you probably won’t have to run out to the store to get ingredients for corn plastic either because you likely already have them.
