Report | November 29, 2022
Bioplastic remains plastic: Bio-based, biodegradable
and compostable plastics
New plastic products made of bio-based, biodegradable, or compostable plasticsa,1,2 (hereafter “bioplastics and compostable plastics”; see Box 1) are increasingly being presented as a ‘sustainable’ alternative to conventional plastics and as the solution to the plastic crisis – including marine plastic pollution. The use of bioplastics and compostable plastics has grown substantially in recent years.3 This increase partly reflects the growing popularity of ‘corporate social responsibility’ (CSR) and, more recently, ‘environmental, social, and governance’ (ESG) as business promotion tools, with companies frequently making claims about their products being “green”, “environmentally friendly”, “biodegradable”, or “100% compostable”. In the case of bioplastics and compostable plastics, such claims are misleading and offer a false solution to the marine plastic crisis. Here, Oceana details the reasons why these materials pose a threat to the marine environment, and why it is therefore unlikely that their use can reverse the tide of plastic pollution at sea, pursuant to the objectives of the European Union Single-Use Plastics Directive ((EU) 2019/904).
The exponential growth in global plastic production6,c has led to increased amounts of plastic waste in the environment, polluting and harming marine ecosystems to an alarming extent. Annual plastic flows to the ocean are expected to grow from 11 million metric tons in 2016 to 29 million metric tons in 2040 if no action is taken. Over 80% of the annual input of plastics comes from land-based sources, with drink bottles, bags, and other plastic packaging representing the main types of items.
