By 2024, the global biodegradable materials market will exceed $15 billion, but along with it is the growing “pseudo-biodegradable” mess. According to the latest report of Break Free From Plastic, an international environmental protection organization, more than 60% of the products labeled as “biodegradable” are actually unable to decompose completely in the natural environment.

Chaos 1: Stealing the concept – “biodegradable” ≠ compostable

Comparison of Key Differences

Characteristics Biodegradable materials Compostable materials

Decomposition conditions May take years Within 180 days (industrial composting)

End products Microplastic risk CO₂+water+organic matter

International certifications No mandatory Standard OK Compost/ASTM D6400

Typical examples:

A brand of “oxo-degradable plastic” shopping bags:

Claims to be “naturally degradable”, but actually crumbles into micro-plastics (banned in the EU)

UK Environment Agency test: residual rate of 89% after 18 months The UK Environment Agency test shows: residue rate of 89% after 18 months

How can consumers tell the difference?

✅ Look for the “Compostable” rather than “Degradable” label

✅ Check that the certification number can be verified on the BPI website.

Chaos 2: Laboratory data ≠ real performance

3 sets of shocking comparative data

PLA coffee capsules

Laboratory conditions (industrial composting at 58°C): 90% degradation in 6 months

Actual landfill (anaerobic at 25°C): only 12% degradation in 2 years

Starch-based “eco-friendly” cutlery

Manufacturer’s claim: 100% biodegradation

Third-party testing ( SGS): 30% PP plastic, not compostable Third party testing (SGS): 30% PP plastic, not compostable

Seaweed-based packaging film

Promotional slogan: “Rapid decomposition in the ocean”

Reality: requires specific pH and temperature, almost non-degradable in normal seawater environment

Chaos 3: “Degradation Paradox” caused by the lack of recycling system

Brutal Reality: 90% of “compostable plastics” are eventually incinerated or landfilled

Cause 1: Insufficient Coverage of Municipal Composting Facilities

Europe: 35%

North America: 18%

Asia: <5% (China is only a pilot program in North, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen) Reason 2: Consumer Misclassification

Survey: 68% of people throw compostable plastics into regular recycling bins, polluting the traditional plastics recycling stream

The Truth about the Industrial Chain:

Some companies know that the material needs to be industrially composted, but do not label the packaging with the treatment method

Waste Treatment Plants Uniformly Incinerate “Biodegradable” Garbage in Order to Save Costs

How to avoid the trap of “pseudo-environmental protection”? 4 tips to teach you to consume smartly

1. Check the certification (the latest authoritative list in 2024)

Home composting: OK Compost HOME

Industrial composting: ASTM D6400

Marine degradation: no international standard (beware of false propaganda)

2. Look at the ingredients (these materials are more reliable)

True environmental protection : PBAT+PLA, PHA, nanocellulose

High risk: oxidative degradation of PE, part of starch mixture

3. Ask the back-end

Confirm with the merchant before purchasing:

“Does the product have a supporting composting facility in my city?”

“Can you provide video evidence of the degradation process?”

4. Support transparent brands

Recommended companies for full life cycle traceability in 2024:

TIPA (Israel): packaging printed with degradation QR code

Notpla (UK): seawater degradation experiments publicized on official website

Ecovative (US): blockchain traceability for mycelial materials

The Dawn of Industry Change: New Regulations and Technological Innovation in 2025

Policy Reinforcement

EU: From 2025, all “compostable” products must be labeled as to how they were processed, with violators fined 4% of revenues

China: GB/T 41010-2024 new national standard is in place, banning vague expressions such as “photo-oxygen degradation” and so on. “

Technological breakthroughs

Enzyme labeling technology: BASF develops color-changing labels that change from blue to green after exposure to composting

AI sorting system: Finland’s ZenRobotics launches compostable plastics identification robot with 99% accuracy