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PLA thermoforming

PLA (bio-based) thermoforming

PLA is the plant-based, industrially compostable plastic for brands cutting fossil-based packaging. Indu Thermoformers forms PLA from in-house extruded sheet — clear, food-safe and certified compostable — for food-service disposables and sustainable retail packaging.

Plant-based & renewableIndustrially compostableFood-contactHigh clarity
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A genuinely bio-based option

PLA is made from renewable resources like corn starch and sugarcane, not petroleum. Certified grades are industrially compostable to EN 13432 / ASTM D6400, and it forms with the clarity and printability of conventional clear plastics — so brands can meet sustainability commitments without a downgrade in shelf appearance. It runs on standard thermoforming tooling.

Where PLA fits — and its limits

PLA suits ambient and chilled food-service items: cups, lids, trays, containers and cutlery, plus eco-conscious retail and produce packaging and single-use medical or lab consumables. Its limit is heat — PLA softens around 58 °C, so it is not for hot-fill or microwave use; for those we recommend PP. We help you match the bio-claim to the real application.

Parts we thermoform in PLA

Compostable cups, lids & traysFood-service containers & cutleryEco retail & produce packagingBakery & deli clamshellsSingle-use medical & lab consumablesSustainable POS displaysCold-food & salad packagingBranded compostable packaging

PLA grades & datasheets

PLA Bio (compostable)

Full technical specifications for each grade are below.

Grade specifications & datasheets

Typical properties as printed on the StellarEx technical datasheet for each grade — download the full TDS or request a quote.

Bio-based

StellarEx PLA Bio

Plant-based, industrially compostable PLA for food-service disposables and sustainable packaging.

  • Bio-based — made from renewable resources
  • Industrially compostable certified grades
  • High clarity and printable surface
  • Food-contact compliant
  • Runs on standard thermoforming tooling

Applications: Food-service cups, lids, trays & containers · Compostable retail & produce packaging · Eco-conscious POS displays · Single-use medical & lab consumables

Download TDSGet a quote →

Typical properties (as printed on TDS)

Specific gravity1.24 g/cm³ASTM D792
Tensile strength60 MPaASTM D638
Flexural modulus3600 MPaASTM D790
Elongation @ break6 %ASTM D638
Light transmittance~ 90 %ASTM D1003
Vicat softening point58 °CASTM D1525
CompostabilityCertified gradesEN 13432 / ASTM D6400

Thickness: 0.2 – 1.5 mm  ·  Width: up to 1400 mm

See all StellarEx grades on the Materials & grades page.

Why Indu for PLA thermoforming

In-house sheet extrusion

We extrude the sheet we form — grade, colour and thickness controlled from the pellet, with no outside vendor in the loop.

Largest bed in India

Thin- and thick-gauge lines, including the largest thermoforming bed in the country for oversized parts.

Tooling in 2–4 weeks

Moulds and trim fixtures designed and cut in-house on 5-axis CNC — fast, and cheap to revise.

ISO 9001 & full docs

8-gate inspection with COA, MTC, FAIR and PPAP-level documentation on request.

Frequently asked questions

Is PLA really compostable?

Certified PLA grades are industrially compostable to EN 13432 / ASTM D6400 — they break down in commercial composting conditions. They are not home-compostable or suited to landfill, so they work best where industrial composting is available.

Is PLA food safe?

Yes — food-contact PLA grades are available with declarations, and PLA forms with the clarity brands want for food and produce packaging.

Can PLA be used for hot food or microwave?

No — PLA softens around 58 °C, so it is unsuitable for hot-fill or microwave use. For heat-resistant sustainable packaging we recommend polypropylene (PP) instead.

Explore more

Sustainability →Packaging Thermoforming →Materials & Grades →PP Thermoforming →

Let’s build it

Building sustainable packaging?

Tell us the product and its temperature range — we reply with the right bio-based grade and a costed quote, usually within 24 hours.

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ISO 9001:2015 certified · Most quotes back within 24 hours