Bioplastic products marketed as “plant-based”, “eco-friendly”, “biodegradable”, and “compostable” are becoming popular in the food industry with rising public awareness about the problems with single-use plastic packaging and plastic pollution. From earthy-looking, molded fibre bowls and utensils made from cornstarch to clear biodegradable cups and pale-green biodegradable garbage bags, the alternatives to traditional plastics are growing.
However, just because a product is “biobased”, “compostable”, or marketed as a “bioplastic” does not necessarily make it better.
Many manufacturers claim their bioplastic products break apart faster in the environment, are made from safer materials, and have smaller climate change impacts — but what’s real and what’s just deceptive advertising?
Lack of regulation has led to misleading marketing meant to falsely convince the public that certain products are environmentally friendly.
Beyond Plastics has just released a new report that examines the truth behind plastic products marketed as “biodegradable” and “compostable”.
This report provides an overview of bioplastic materials currently on the market, the voluntary standards that govern their design, and scientific research findings to date on their safety to help individuals make evaluations of their options. It also covers the waste management issues associated with bioplastics and provides a checklist to guide decision making.
Some of the report’s key findings:
> Recent research on bioplastics’ safety shows that some bioplastics may be even more toxic than traditional plastics because their product formulations contain new, unidentified chemicals.
> Companies do not have to disclose the chemicals used in their bioplastics products and most refuse to share that information.
> There are currently no federal US regulations governing the definitions of terms like bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, and compostable plastics. As a result, they can be used without qualification.
> Most compostable plastics can only break down in a commercial composting facility, and few communities in the US have access to commercial composting facilities.
> Many commercial composters specifically do not accept bioplastic packaging due to contamination concerns as plastics contain many toxic chemicals, including PFAS.
Eliminating single-use plastic, swapping plastic for a reusable or refillable system, or replacing plastic with a more sustainable paper or cardboard product should all be considered before turning to bioplastics, the report says.
Read and download the free report here:
Check out this video on the truth about bioplastics:
https://fb.watch/th2Akkrgih/