Several studies, comparing bio-based plastics to conventional polymers, are in favour of the
former, mostly when impacts at global scale are considered, such as non-renewable resources use or
emission of fossil carbon dioxide. However, inappropriate waste management scenarios, as well as
other phases of the bio-based product, can also partly obliterate the environmental benefit of
bioplastics [3-5]. Among bioplastics, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and PLA-based blends represent around
20% of market share, for a global production capacity approaching 200 kt/year. PLA is a synthetic bio-
based plastic made from lactic acid (LA), a chemical building block obtained by fermentation
processes from biomass sugars (sugarbeet, corn, sugar cane, wheat, etc.).