PLA is obtained from the fast-growing corn plant or from sugar cane. This starch serves as the basis for bioplastic, also known as PLA. PLA stands for polylactic acid or polylactide and is the name for thermoplastic polymers of lactic acid. They are often referred to by the abbreviation PLA (from the English polylactic acid). They are biodegradable in an industrial composting facility, biocompatible and produced from renewable vegetable raw materials (corn starch or sugar cane), and are therefore promoted as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.