The debate: Biodegradable and compostable plastic bags (part 3 of 3)

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2019/08/27 The debate: Biodegradable and compostable plastic bags (part 3 of 3)

The debate: Biodegradable and compostable plastic bags
by Victoria Hattersley
20 MAY 2019

source from: https://packagingeurope.com/the-debate-biodegradable-and-compostable-plastic-bags/

RT: With regard to the Exo-Plastics masterbatch, the bag itself clearly said on it: ‘Biodegradable bag ([Exo-Plastics logo], sustainable bioplastic; biodegradable ISO 14855)’ A lack of claim on a website does not alter in any way the claims made directly on the product itself. Neither will it alter the assumptions a consumer might make about the product.
Following the publication of our research paper, we have received numerous messages from the public and industry thanking us for making this issue more transparent. Indeed, the study has been cited in the UK’s House of Lords, when The Lord Bishop of St Albans called on the government to “produce clear standards and guidelines so we can be sure that these are biodegradable and improve the environment, and that we are not misled.”

For more than 20 years, scientists at the University of Plymouth have been working to understand the scale and drivers of plastic pollution in the environment. We were the first to describe the presence of microplastics in the ocean back in 2004, which is now a globally recognized term. We pride ourselves on engaging with industry, policy and scientific partners, because these issues cannot be tackled in isolation – they require a coordinated approach, from consumers, manufacturers, and governments.

VH: I think from the above, it seems that something we can all agree on is that there is a fundamental misunderstanding among the general public (and even certain sections of the media) about what terms such as ‘biobased’, ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable’ really mean in the real-world context, which needs to be addressed through clear communication. Such confusion could indeed be argued to have played its part in holding back the wider adoption of bioplastics. Perhaps another common thread is the need for more transparency when it comes to labelling of bags?

RT: We entirely agree that our study indicates the need for consistent standards on degradation and labelling and this is exactly what we state in the paper. Policy and industry need to move forward so that such labelling cites the relevant standards and is transparent as to the conditions and timescales behind them. Since degradable and compostable materials are in many locations not compatible with available recycling infrastructure, it is also important that the users are informed of the appropriate disposal route, which in many circumstances will be disposal to the residual waste stream. It is only by providing accurate, unambiguous, and complete guidance to the user regarding disposal that the potential benefits of these novel materials can be realized.
This research into degradable plastic bags has prompted debate and public interest, and that is a good thing, especially if it leads to much needed improvements in labelling.

FdB: Regarding labelling, European Bioplastics strongly recommends having the conformity to a standard verified by an independent body that issues according certificates and corresponding labels. Biodegradability as a sole claim without a standard specification is misleading. If a material or product is advertised as biodegradable, further information on the timeframe, the level of biodegradation and the surrounding conditions should be provided. Moreover, data should be made available to interested parties for verification. This means that a plastic bag needs a clear label to claim biodegradability.
In the case of the fake biodegradable plastic bag, the researcher should have checked before initiating the study if it was certified as biodegradable in any of the environments tested.

RT: We examined five types of material with multiple replicates of each. These were examined in three environments over three years. The study shows the outcomes for those bags. The details of each bag type are given in the paper. We are not able to comment (nor do we) about bags that we did not examine.
Again, if you have concerns about the labelling used by any of the bag manufacturers in the study please can I suggest you discuss these with them (and or any relevant trading standards organisations) directly. Perhaps consider using the outcomes of our research to support your points?

VH: Thank you both for all your very clear and considered points. Are there any concluding remarks you would like to give?

FdB: The approach to labelling of biodegradable and compostable plastics already is transparent and uniform. There are already several trustworthy third-party certification bodies responsible for testing and awarding corresponding certification to products for both compostability and biodegradability in different environments. For instance, a properly certified compostable product by an independent certifier according to the standard EN 13432 can be labelled with the Seedling Logo and include the registration number.
The fact that some producers out there in the world deliberately print a label on their PE bag and claim it to be biodegradable is bad enough as it is, and, unfortunately, there is little that we can do about it.

RT: I have been working on the topic of plastic pollution for over 20 years. Never before has there been such a global level of interest to address this issue. The public, policy and industry are all seeking for solutions and in my view this is an environmental challenge that can be solved. Plastics have the potential to bring immense societal benefit and the majority of those benefits can be achieved without the accumulation of waste and litter.
Broadly speaking the solutions lie in more responsible use of plastics. In order to make appropriate and informed choices it is essential for novel products, such as degradable and biodegradable plastics, to be clearly, accurately and consistently labelled; indicating the receiving environments and timescales for degradation and the waste streams that should be used for their disposal.

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