is made by blending a pro-degradant additive into the plastic during the extrusion process. The additive causes the molecular structure of plastic to break down when exposed to heat or sunlight. The plastic will eventually be in a state where it can be digested by microorganisms.
Due to lack of enforcement, and the pace at which the bioplastics industry is growing, you may encounter into product s misleadingly marketed as compostable or biodegradable.
In both film extrusion and injection molding applications, there are additive technologies where bio-additives (such as starch) are added to traditional plastic (such as PP, PE, PS, etc.) and falsely marketed as compostable and biodegradable. These oxo-degradable products are often more damaging to the environment than traditional plastic.
Misleading marketing of non-compostable products. “Oxo”-degradable, “oxo”-biodegradable, etc. Bio-additives, such as starch added to polyethylene (PE). Oxo-film is often falsely marketed as being biodegradable when it is only degradable. “Degradable” cutlery is made from a blend of bio-additives, such as starch (PSM – Plant Starch Material, for example), and traditional plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). These blends often consist of %70 plastic! This cutlery is NOT compostable or biodegradable.
