Biodegradable and Biobased Plastics: An Overview

Abstract

Plastic mulch film and sheets, rods, and tubing find increasing use in agriculture. Current polyethylene plastic mulch film is not biodegradable and therefore cannot be plowed back into the soil. It may undergo fragmentation, and the small fragments are blown all over and find its way into ocean and other pristine environments. This causes irreparable harm to ecosystems and the habitats. Completely soil-biodegradable plastics or compostable plastics offer an environmentally responsible end-of-life solution for plastic mulch film and plasticulture products. Claims of biodegradability should be qualified by the disposal environment (soil or compost), 90% + biodegradability as measured by the evolved CO₂ from the microbial process using international standards for soil biodegradability and/or compostability. However, one has to be careful of misleading claims that are prevalent in the marketplace, particularly additive-based polyolefin plastics. Using biobased carbon in place of petro-fossil carbon in the products offers a reduced carbon footprint, empowers rural agrarian economy, and reduces dependence on fossil resources.