Biodegradable Plastics are broken down by naturally occurring microorganisms – such as bacteria and fungi – into water, biomass, and gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. The rate of biodegradation depends on environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, the consortia of microorganisms present and the presence or absence of oxygen. Biodegradable plastics can be made from bio-based and fossil-based precursors, and sometimes a mixture of the two.

FAO. 2021. Assessment of agricultural plastics and their sustainability. A call for action. Rome.

Source category: International Organisation 

While conventional plastics do not decompose at the end of their life, plastics referred to as ‘biodegradable’ are designed to decompose at the end of their life by the conversion of all their organic constituents (polymers and organic additives) mainly into carbon dioxide and water, new microbial biomass, mineral salts and, in the absence of oxygen, methane. For that to happen, in addition to the characteristics of the plastic material, suitable conditions in the receiving environment and sufficient time are necessary. This is why plastic biodegradation must be considered not only in terms of the properties of the material, but above all in terms of a ‘system-property’ where material-related and environment-related factors are equally important. 

‘Compostable plastics’ are a subset of biodegradable plastics designed to biodegrade under controlled conditions, typically through industrial composting in special facilities for composting or anaerobic digestion. The biodegradable plastics waste sent for industrial composting first needs to be collected. There is a European standard for industrially compostable packaging but not for home composting as the conditions for the latter can differ significantly.

COM(2022) 682 final

Source category: EC Policy Documents