Biodegradable Plastic Bags, Not So Biodegradable"

Question

by Vicky Stein

The average person uses a typical plastic bag for as short a time as 12 minutes before throwing it away, never thinking of where it may end up.

Yet once consigned to a landfill, that standard grocery store tote takes hundreds or thousands of years to break down — much more than a human lifetime. Bags make up an alarming amount of the plastic found in whale stomachs or bird nests, and it’s no wonder — globally, we use between 1 and 5 trillion plastic bags each year.

Biodegradable plastic bags are marketed as more eco-friendly solutions, able to break down into harmless material more quickly than traditional plastics. One company claims their shopping bag “will degrade and biodegrade in a continuous, irreversible and unstoppable process” if it ends up as litter in the environment.

In a study published this week in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers put supposedly eco-friendly bags made from vari

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ous biodegradable materials to the test. Their findings reveal a complex picture: while these biodegradable bags do break down more readily than conventional plastic bags, the process is still far from perfect.

The researchers conducted experiments in different environments to simulate real-world conditions. They placed biodegradable bags in soil, freshwater, and saltwater to mimic the diverse ecosystems these bags might encounter after disposal. The results showed that, under ideal conditions, some biodegradable bags did begin to decompose within a few months. However, in harsher or less conducive environments, such as landfills or oceans, the breakdown process was significantly slower, sometimes taking several years to show any visible degradation.

Moreover, even when biodegradable bags do break down, the process can leave behind microplastics, which are harmful to marine life and can enter the food chain. This raises concerns about the true sustainability of these products. Many consumers may be misled into thinking they are making an environmentally friendly choice by using biodegradable bags, while in reality, these alternatives may not be as beneficial as advertised.

The study emphasizes the need for better regulations and clearer labeling for biodegradable products to ensure consumers make informed decisions. It also highlights the importance of reducing overall plastic use, advocating for reusable bags as the most effective solution to combat the plastic pollution crisis.

In conclusion, while biodegradable bags may offer some advantages over traditional plastic bags, they are not a panacea for the plastic waste problem. A more holistic approach, involving shifts in consumer behavior and a reduction in plastic consumption, is essential for truly sustainable practices moving forward.