- To combat the massive problem of plastic debris in the world’s oceans, manufacturers developed lightweight plastic products
- These plastic products are supposed to break down rapidly, thus reducing hazards to marine animals.
- According to U top environmental scientist, these biodegradable plastics were not behaving as promised, instead they contribute to the problem of ocean plastic just as much as other variants.
- Previous studies have shown that biodegradable plastic products do not break down more rapidly in landfills.
- UN report issued this week says the supposedly eco-friendly plastics don’t deteriorate rapidly in the ocean, either.
- The only environment in which they do dissolve according to manufacturer’s claims is in industrial digesters.
- That doesn’t exactly address the problem for the 32 percent of the world’s plastic that end up somewhere other than waste management facilities.
- A lot of plastics labelled biodegradable, like shopping bags, will only break down in temperatures of 50C (122F).