PVOH vs PLA vs PBAT: Choosing the Right Low-Impact Packaging Material

Three materials, three different jobs

PVOH, PLA and PBAT are often grouped together as "bioplastics", but they behave very differently in a warehouse, in water and at the end of life. Bioplastics can be biobased, biodegradable or both, and biodegradability depends on chemical structure, not on the origin of the material (European Bioplastics). The right choice depends on what your package has to do.

PLA: plant-based, industrially compostable

PLA, polylactic acid, is made from plant sugars: crops such as corn, cassava, sugar cane or beets are milled, the sugars are fermented into lactic acid, and lactic acid is polymerised into PLA (NatureWorks). Certain PLA products can be composted in municipal or industrial facilities that regulate temperature, moisture and aeration, and every final product must pass its own compostability testing. NatureWorks also notes that industrial composting facilities are limited and may not be available near you (NatureWorks composting).

PLA is rigid on its own, so for flexible films it is often blended with PBAT.

PBAT: compostable and water resistant

PBAT, polybutylene adipate terephthalate, is a biodegradable polyester. BASF, which introduced it as ecoflex in 1998, describes it as fossil-based in its standard grade, with partially bio-based grades available, certified industrially compostable under EN 13432, and, for its grades, biodegradable under home composting and in agricultural soil (EN 17033). It is elastic, water and tear resistant, and it runs on conventional PE blown film machines (BASF).

That water resistance is the key difference with PVOH: a PBAT bag can hold wet waste or go outdoors. In our experience, standard compostable plastics typically have a shelf life of about 12 months from manufacture, which matters for brands that buy in container loads. GPS PLAS, our sister factory, makes CompoFlex, a compostable PBAT compound compliant with EN 13432.

PVOH: water-soluble and tested in water and seawater

PVOH is a synthetic, water-soluble polymer. As a film it is clear, prints well and blocks oxygen far better than PE. It dissolves in water, then microorganisms turn the polymer into carbon dioxide, water and biomass. AquaFlex, PVA PRO's modified PVOH, passed ISO 14852 in 32 days in fresh water, ASTM D6691 in 43 days in natural seawater and ISO 14855-1 in 125 days in industrial composting, in independent lab tests by ARCHA S.r.l. (Italy).

Its retained samples have stayed stable for more than five years in normal storage conditions. The limit is equally clear: goods must not touch liquid water. See Does PVOH film really biodegrade?.

Side by side

Sources: AquaFlex data from PVA PRO and ARCHA lab tests; PLA from NatureWorks; PBAT from BASF; EN 13432 from European Bioplastics.

A simple decision guide

• The package must dissolve in use (laundry bag, detergent dose, mold release film): PVOH.
• Dry goods, long storage, clear bag (garments, leather, electronics, metal parts): PVOH, with carton liners if water contact is a risk.
• The package touches water or wet waste and goes to composting: PBAT based compostable material such as CompoFlex.
• Rigid items for industrial composting: PLA, where industrial composting is available.

Not sure? PVA PRO and GPS PLAS are both TURN GREEN companies, so we can compare PVOH with compostable options on the same brief. Read What is modified PVOH?, the applications guide, or request a sample.

End of life in practice

A material is only as good as the route it actually takes after use. Industrial composting needs controlled temperature, moisture and aeration, and NatureWorks notes that these facilities are limited and may not be available near you (NatureWorks). EN 13432 requires, among other things, at least 90% disintegration within 12 weeks in industrial composting (European Bioplastics).

PVOH takes a different route: in uses such as laundry bags, detergent doses or mold release film, it dissolves during use and goes with the water. AquaFlex results in fresh water (ISO 14852, 32 days) and natural seawater (ASTM D6691, 43 days) describe what happens next in lab conditions. For a garment or electronics bag, tell end users clearly how to dispose of it, based on those reports.

Processing and barrier

We only fill cells we can source. Where PLA or PBAT data depend on a specific grade, ask that supplier for its data sheet, just as you would ask us for the AquaFlex one.

Four example briefs

Many brands end up using more than one material: PVOH for laundry or garment bags, a compostable PBAT material for wet waste, and barrier paper for food. Because PVA PRO and GPS PLAS are both TURN GREEN companies, one team can review the whole packaging range on a single brief and point each item to the material that fits its use, storage time and end of life.

Why the supplier matters as much as the material

Only a few companies, in a few countries in the world, can develop modified PVOH material technology. Based in Vietnam, PVA PRO offers international businesses a unique alternative: a reliable partner with good quality and competitive prices. PVA PRO is Vietnam's first modified PVA (PVOH) manufacturer and the first in Vietnam to produce PVOH film and packaging, with 200 tons per month of capacity and a 500 kg minimum order. More in Why Vietnam is a new sourcing alternative and on the AquaFlex film page.