Fake biodegradables are giving real biodegradable a bad name

We’ve been closely following the controversy around chemo-degradable plastics which are currently been added to plastic products to make them degrade faster. Concerned about the negative effects that degradable plastics will have on the recycling system, the South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) released a report that “insists that the usage of biodegradable additives in plastic films be stopped immediately”. However, the report makes no distinction between oxo-degradable and genuinely biodegradable, and compostable, plastics.

Green Home’s biodegradable products are plant-based and break down into harmless substances through the action of naturally occurring micro-organisms. Whereas petroleum-based oxo-degradable plastics have an additive that merely allows them to disintegrate faster.

It is encouraging to see ongoing research and debate around the issue and commend SAPRO on pointing out that oxo-degradable plastics are not a viable solution to the problem to pollution and lack of landfill space.