Rubbish, biodegradable plastic is no solution to ocean pollution

Endless pollution: Plastic bags washed ashore in Sekinchan, Selangor. When plastics break up, they leave behind bits of microplastic that continue to pollute the sea. Photo: The Star/Tan Cheng Li

Concerns over plastic pollution have prompted many consumers to reach for products labelled “biodegradable”. A United Nations study, however, has found that widespread use of such items does little to solve the problem of plastic in the world’s oceans and the damage it does to marine creatures and the environment.

The report Biodegradable Plastics and Marine Litter – Misconceptions, Concerns and Impacts on Marine Environments says that in the oceans, biodegradable plastic rarely disintegrates. There is also evidence suggesting that labelling products as “biodegradable” makes people more inclined to litter.