Biodegradable plastic is plastic that microorganisms can break down into water, carbon dioxide and biomass under defined conditions of temperature, moisture and time. It is not the same as compostable plastic, which must break down in a composting facility within a set period, or bio-based plastic, a term that describes the raw material and not the end of life.
Biodegradable plastics are not a replacement for recycling. Most need industrial conditions to degrade and persist in open environments, and when they enter a conventional plastic stream they act as contamination that weakens the recyclate. For most packaging, designing for recyclability and using recycled content keeps material in use for longer.
