Today is World Oceans Day, and a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) suggests that biodegradable plastics may be just as harmful to marine life as conventional plastic.
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The report states that biodegradable alternative materials may have similar toxicity to conventional plastics, and can persist in the marine environment for many years.
The report, 'Chemicals in Plastics: A Technical Report', summarises a set of scientific studies, and was released at the beginning of May in the lead up to the United Nation's negotiations on a global plastics treaty. It aims to support the development of a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.
According to UNEP, of the 13,000 chemicals that have been associated with plastics, more than 6,000 have insufficient data to determine their human or environmental impacts. Of the 7,000 chemicals that do have sufficient data, almost 50% have one or more hazardous properties of concern.
The impacts of plastics on marine life are well-known. Vast numbers of marine species are killed by plastic ingestion, entanglement and toxic contamination every year. Species at the top of the food chain, such as killer whales and white sharks, are disproportionately affected due to biomagnification. This refers to toxic chemicals consumed through food, increasingly building up in the bodies of animals as you go up the food chain. Endocrine disrupting chemicals in plastics are particularly concerning because they can impact the functioning of wildlife's reproductive, immune and nervous systems.
Human health can also be impacted by chemicals in plastics. The report highlights that chemicals found in plastics have been associated with cancer, nervous system damage, hormone disruption and fertility issues.
In an attempt to address these issues presented by conventional plastics, bio-based and biodegradable plastic alternatives have been developed. However, these present similar concerns. UNEP states that 'while bio-based plastic can help address the fossil resource challenge, it will not solve the pollution problem caused by chemicals in plastic'.
Studies presented in the report have shown that biodegradable plastics may be as toxic as conventional fossil fuel-based plastics and contain similar types and amounts of chemicals of concern. A variety of synthetic fillers and chemical additives are often used to change the properties of plastics and biodegradable plastics, for example to reduce brittleness. Some biodegradable plastics are reported to only break down in industrial or controlled composting conditions, and persist in marine environments for many years with close to no biodegradation.
Biodegradable plastics can be used in food packaging and other food contact materials, providing a route for people to be exposed to harmful chemicals. Marine life may also be exposed should food packaging litter enter water bodies.
A study by CHEM Trust and eight other non-profit organisations, also raised concern over the use of biodegradable packaging. The study found that moulded fibre products (e.g. bowls, plates, and food boxes), advertised as biodegradable or compostable disposable products, had the highest concentrations of PFAS compared to other disposable food packaging. PFAS are a group of highly persistent chemicals, and the most studied PFAS are associated with severe adverse health effects.
CHEM Trust is calling on EU and UK authorities to protect their citizens from harmful chemicals by introducing robust legislation to phase out the most harmful chemicals from consumer products by , including in food contact materials.
To reduce your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals in plastics and their alternatives, CHEM Trust advises reducing your overall use of these materials. Here are some helpful tips:
Find out more about avoiding harmful chemicals in food packaging on our 'Food, Food Packaging and Cooking' webpage.
Check out this answer from Consensus:
Biodegradable plastics offer potential environmental benefits, particularly in controlled waste management settings. However, their effectiveness in natural environments is limited by various factors, including the need for specific conditions to degrade and the risk of forming microplastics. While they can contribute to sustainable development, biodegradable plastics are not a panacea for plastic pollution and should be integrated into a comprehensive waste management strategy. Further research and improved design are necessary to enhance their environmental performance and ensure they do not introduce new ecological threats.
The environmental impact of plastic waste has led to increased interest in biodegradable plastics as a potential solution. These materials are designed to break down more readily than conventional plastics, ideally reducing pollution and harm to ecosystems. However, the effectiveness and environmental benefits of biodegradable plastics are subjects of ongoing debate and research.
Chris Wilcox has answered Unlikely
An expert from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Marine Science, Ecology
No, just shorter lived pollution.
Paolo S Calabrò has answered Uncertain
An expert from Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria in Environmental Engineering
This is a complex question, the better solution for plastic end-of-life is collection followed to some form of recovery (recycling if possible), especially for plastic derived from renewable feedstocks. Also the thermal treatment with energy recovery is particularly appealing. If the question is related to the plastic abandoned in the environment, a rapidly biodegradable plastic would be better. The truth is that for many biodegradable plastics the assessment of the behaviour in natural environments is still complex.
Brian Johnston has answered Likely
An expert from University of Wolverhampton in Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology
Biodegradable plastics are better for the environment, however some bioplastics do not have the properties or economic value that traditional fossil-fuel based plastics do.
Irene Barguilla has answered Likely
An expert from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Genetics, Toxicology
The development of biodegradable plastics will potentially contribute to reduce the levels of plastic pollution at a macro level. However, it remains to be confirmed that the biotransformation of biodegradable plastic does not further contribute to the persistence of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment.
Sahar Seif has answered Likely
An expert from Carleton University in Environmental Science
Yes. However, greenwashing must be avoided and verified to be in fact free of petroleum plastics. With innovation in mind, products are being made of materials that are made of biological nutrients (The Upycle, ). Petroleum plastics are not made of biological nutrients in that the chemical harm associated with them outweighs the material benefits.
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Josefa Domenech has answered Likely
An expert from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Toxicology, Microbiology
Yes. However, not all of them are completely biodegradable and their degradation in nature may alter environmental geochemistry.
Sharon George has answered Likely
An expert from Keele University in Environmental Science
Yes, compared to non-biodegradable plastics, but only if they are properly biodegraded. Some biodegradable plastics require very specific conditions, for example, industrial composting conditions over 50C. If they do not end up in the right environment, they may not degrade or only partially degrade. To fully biodegrade they have to fragment, usually via the action of heat, photodegradation, water and enzymes. At this stage they are simply microplastics. They have to then go through mineralisation, where fragments are assimilated by microbes to fully biodegrade.
Jenifer Panizzon has answered Unlikely
An expert from Feevale University in Environmental Science
In terms of potential effects on organisms and human health, they are not. Similarly, biodegradable plastics will take additives that may cause damage to the environment in addition to the environmental costs of their production.
Jacqueline Rutkowski has answered Unlikely
An expert from Interdisciplinary Institute for Studies and Research on Sustainability in Environmental Science
No, since biodegradable plastic is not actually biodegradable. So it's even worse for the environment, because it leads to misunderstandings about the best ways to promote plastic recycling.
Joana C Prata has answered Uncertain
An expert from University of Aveiro in Toxicology, Chemistry
Biodegradable do not necessarily degrade in the environment, many are compostable only under specific conditions. Therefore, biodegradable plastics impact on the environment will depend on its applications and end-of-life.
Carla Elliff has answered Uncertain
An expert from University of Sao Paulo in Oceanography, Climatology
Biodegradable can be a misleading term because by itself it does not explain how much time is needed for the material to biodegrade (maybe a few days, maybe a few hundred years), nor does it entail in which conditions this occurs (specific temperature, light availability, oxygen' all this matters!). Lots of plastics have been labeled as biodegradable without clearly stating these details. In some cases this can be considered as 'greenwashing' ' meaning that producers are looking to associate an 'environmentally-friendly' brand to their product, though without in fact looking out for the environment.
See more about biodegradable plastics at: https://www.batepapocomnetuno.com/post/beware-of-biodegradable-plastics-you-may-be-fooled
Britta Denise Hardesty has answered Unlikely
An expert from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Biology, Marine Ecology, Ecology, Plant Ecology
There is a lot of information ' and mis-information about 'biodegradable plastics'. The idea of 100% biodegradable plastics could be a good idea, the practice of it is problematic at the moment. Plastic and good for the environment don't really go hand in hand. We don't need or want plastics of any sort littering our natural environment. We want items/products to be used for their intended purpose, but not to be lost to the environment, no matter how 'environmentally okay' they are supposed to be.
Alethia Vazquez-Morillas has answered Unlikely
An expert from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in Environmental Science, Engineering
Not necessarily. There are different types of biodegradable plastics, the most accepted being those which degrade in compost (i.e., compostable plastics). However, to make a difference in the environmental impact, they must reach the proper end-of-life scenario: a composting plant. There they will find a suitable environment for their biodegradation. For this to happen, segregation at source and during collection is required. If compostable plastics go to landfills, where oxygen is lacking, they will not degrade readily. If, on the other hand, they are littered in the environment, there is no guarantee that they will find the required microorganisms, oxygen, and water needed for their biodegradation. Even if they find them, the process will not be immediate, and they could be ingested by different animals or cause other harmful effects.
Ece Topuzlu has answered Uncertain
An expert from Janssen in Biochemistry
Biodegradable plastics can be broken down with the use of microorganisms. In that sense, they are less likely to be harmful in the environment. However, most biodegradable plastics we use today still require composting facilities to fully biodegrade. If the biodegradable plastics actually reach the necessary facilities, they can be considered better for the environment.
Jill Bartolotta has answered Unlikely
An expert from Ohio State University in Marine Ecology, Education, Social Sciences, Environmental Science
Biodegradable plastics are often contaminated with virgin plastic, but marketed as biodegradable so this is the first issue with biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable plastics behave the same way as any other plastic item in the natural environment until they degrade. Meaning they entangle animals, reduce aesthetics, and can be ingested. Which yes some biodegradable plastics degrade faster than plastic but recent studies are finding a slew of toxic chemicals associated with biodegradable plastics. If you are wanting to use biodegradable items it is best to stick with items made from natural fibers.
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