Biodegradable Plastics May End Up Doing More Harm Than Good
The green credentials of bioplastics are making consumers complacent. But the way they break down is a risk to the environment.
Washed up.
Photographer: KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images
For those guilt-ridden about the environmental damage caused by everyday consumer purchases, there are myriad paths toward forgiveness. Stick your bottles, cans and Amazon cartons into the recycling box. Buy the organic cold brew that’s made with 100% renewable power. Minimize the carbon from your ski holiday flight with Peruvian rainforest offsets.
Then there’s biodegradable plastics. It’s hard to cut polymers from your life when boxed blueberries are so temptingly cheap and so healthy — but perhaps we can at least mitigate the effects if we buy them in a box that will turn into compost?