Uncovering Biodegradable Products

Biodegradable plastics have been touted as an “eco-friendly solution” to white pollution, but hidden technological limitations, commercial misinformation and regulatory loopholes could make them a “green scam”. The following is the key insider analysis:

I. The “classification trap” of degradable plastics

1. Pseudo-degradable plastics (oxidative degradation)

   - Adding oxidizing agent (e.g. PE+starch), only broken into microplastics, but the toxicity is enhanced. The EU has explicitly banned, but some countries are still in use.

   - Industry black word: “disintegrable” plastics (actually non-degradable). 

2. Condition-dependent degradation (e.g. PLA/PBAT)

   - Requires industrial composting (50-60°C + specific microorganisms + humidity), very slow degradation in natural environment.  

   - Truth: Only about 20% of industrial composting facilities in the world can process PLA, and most of them are incinerated as garbage.

Second, the industry chain's “Green Bleaching” tactics

1. Misleading Labeling

   - Labeling “degradable” without stating the conditions (e.g. “soil degradation takes 2 years” actually refers to the ideal laboratory environment).

   - Case: A takeaway platform's “environmentally friendly lunch boxes” are still intact after 3 years in the natural environment.

2. Cost shifting and policy arbitrage

   - The price of biodegradable plastics is 2-5 times higher than that of ordinary plastics, but after the government subsidy, the company profits from the “environmental tax”, and the actual recycling rate is less than 10%.

3. Mixed materials interfere with recycling  

   - PLA and PET are similar in appearance, and mixing them with traditional plastics will cause the whole batch of recycled materials to be scrapped. Some recyclers in Europe have refused to accept PLA-containing waste products.

Scientific Controversy and Lack of Regulation

1. Doubts about the safety of degradation products

   - The degradation of PBAT may release terephthalic acid (suspected endocrine disruptor), and the degradation of PLA produces lactic acid, which may change the pH value of soil.

2. Loopholes in testing standards

   - The Chinese standard (GB/T 20197) only requires a degradation rate of ≥90% within 180 days, but does not specify the toxicity of the residue. The American ASTM D6400 standard also has similar problems.

3. Suppression of alternatives  

   - Traditional plastics giants are lobbying to promote the concept of “degradability” and suppressing true circular economy solutions (e.g. reuse systems).

How can consumers recognize authenticity?

1. Look for certification marks

   - Recognize industrial composting certificates (e.g., EU EN13432, U.S. BPI), and be wary of vague expressions such as “photo-degradable” and “thermo-oxidative degradable.

2. Experimental testing

   - Verification at home: Bury the plastic in the moist soil of a flower pot, if it does not crumble after 3 months, it is pseudo degradation.

3. Prefer non-plastic options

   - Such as glass, stainless steel reuse, or choose packaging-free products.

Degradable plastics have value in specific scenarios (e.g., healthcare, agriculture), but are by no means a panacea. Reducing single-use consumption is more effective than relying on “biodegradable”. Consumers need to remain critical of “technology myths” in the environmental sector, which often mask a profit motive.

What is a truly biodegradable material:

Truly degradable products are plastics that can, under specific environmental conditions, under the action of microorganisms, light, oxygen or moisture, and after a period of time, undergo physical or chemical changes, gradually decompose and ultimately be converted into environmentally harmless substances such as water, carbon dioxide, methane or biomass. According to national standards, degradable plastics are divided into the following categories:

• 1. Biodegradable plastics: in nature, such as soil, compost, freshwater or seawater environments, they are eventually completely degraded into harmless substances such as carbon dioxide and water through the action of microorganisms.

• 2. Compostable plastics: they can be completely degraded under composting conditions, and the degradation products are harmless to the environment and can support plant growth.

• 3. Photo-degradable plastics: can be degraded under light conditions, but attention should be paid to the microplastics that may be produced.

• 4. Thermo-oxidative degradation of plastics: degradation occurs under the conditions of high temperature and oxygen, also need to pay attention to the impact of its degradation products on the environment.