Publication
Why are bio-based and biodegradable plastics not part of the solution to reduce plastic waste?
High levels of plastic consumption have a range of negative impacts.Bio-based and biodegradable plastics can be proposed as alternatives to fossil-based plastic. Although environmental benefits are often ascribed to these materials, the article shows that a one-to-one substitution of conventional plastics with these alternatives is an overly simplistic approach, leading neither to changes in waste volumes nor to long-term environmental improvements. The report illuminates the background and reasons for this assessment and analysis.