Polylactic acid

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a type of plastic. Specifically it is a type of polyester. It is the most popular plastic for 3D printing. It has many properties that make it an ideal material for 3D printing. It has a low melting point, and it does not shrink much when it cools. PLA is usually made from sugar or starch.

Red PLA filament for 3D printing

Environmental impact

PLA can break down in a high-temperature industrial compost, but the most common way of disposing of it is burning it; it does not release any toxic fumes except carbon monoxide, which is released by almost any burning material, because it is only made of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. In the natural outdoor environment or in the ocean, it does not break down any faster than other plastics such as ABS or PET.