The shelf life of corn resin is similar to synthetic plastics. It will not break down during regular wear and use. In a compost environment, corn resin is 99% biodegradable to carbon dioxide and water within 365 days. Since it's made from corn, it comes from a renewable resource. Conventional plastics use an estimated 200,000 barrels of oil a day in the United States alone but because corn resin is bio-based, it therefore uses no oil resources in production.