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Complex Degradation of PBAT and PLA in Estuarine and Coastal Waters
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"Biodegradable" plastics like PLA (often used in compostable cups and cutlery) don't break down reliably once they end up in rivers or oceans, their breakdown speed varies wildly depending on the water conditions, and in many cases they simply crack into smaller plastic fragments rather than fully disappearing. This matters because these fragments can become microplastics that persist in waterways, meaning switching to "biodegradable" plastic isn't a guaranteed fix for pollution unless it ends up in the right environment to actually break down.
Abstract Understanding the environmental degradation of biodegradable plastics under realistic aquatic conditions is critical for assessing their contribution to microplastic pollution. Here, we report an 18-month in situ study of the degradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) sheets deployed in marine and estuarine environments under benthic and surface exposure conditions. PBAT showed highly variable degradation, with mass loss ranging from 5% in likely anaerobic or oxygen-limited benthic marine settings to 93% in estuarine conditions. After 10 months of exposure, mechanical property deterioration and molecular weight loss were evident, with fragmentation into macro- and mesoplastics at several sites. PLA also exhibited a decrease in molecular weight and mechanical properties over time, resulting in fragmentation at all sites to various extents after 18 months, but it showed minimal mass loss, indicating slow bulk degradation and likely persistence of both macro- and microplastics. LLDPE remained largely unchanged with no significant mechanical changes, supporting the probability of long-term persistence of polyethylene. Overall, the results highlight that degradation and microplastic formation of PBAT and PLA samples are nonlinear and highly dependent on aquatic environmental conditions.
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Environmental aging behavior and organic matter release of biodegradable microplastics PLA, PBAT and PHBV under different coastal environmental conditions
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"Biodegradable" plastics used in coastal areas (like PLA, PBAT, and PHBV) don't just harmlessly disappear—sunlight and seawater conditions break them down into smaller particles and release dissolved substances at different rates depending on the environment. This matters because these breakdown products, including tiny nano-sized particles, could persist in coastal waters longer than expected and potentially enter the food chain, meaning "biodegradable" plastics may still pose environmental and health risks similar to conventional microplastics under certain conditions.
Degradation of supposedly biodegradable polymers in a real estuarine environment
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Researchers tested the real-world degradation of supposedly biodegradable polymer bags in an estuarine environment over 180 days. The study found that bags made of PLA combined with PBAT and starch showed the most consistent degradation, while polyethylene bags with oxo-biodegradable additives and plain polyethylene showed minimal breakdown, questioning the effectiveness of some biodegradable alternatives in natural settings.
Generation of Microplastics from Biodegradable Packaging Films Based on PLA, PBS and Their Blend in Freshwater and Seawater
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Researchers studied how biodegradable plastic films made from PLA, PBS, and their blends break down in freshwater and seawater over several months. All films generated microplastic particles as they degraded, with different water environments producing different amounts and types of fragments. This study challenges the idea that biodegradable plastics are a clean solution, since they still create microplastics during breakdown in natural water systems.
Fate of So‐Called Biodegradable Polymers in Seawater and Freshwater
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This review examined whether so-called biodegradable plastics actually break down in seawater and freshwater environments, finding that most degrade far too slowly to offer any practical environmental benefit. The study warns that biodegradable labeling can create a false sense of security and may not reduce plastic accumulation in aquatic ecosystems.
Microbial Degradation of Plastics in Freshwater Environments
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Scientists tested how well different plastics break down in rivers, creeks, and ponds when exposed to natural microbes. One "biodegradable" plastic (PHA) nearly disappeared within four months, but other common plastics—including a different "biodegradable" one (PLA) and everyday plastics like plastic bags (LDPE) and bottles (PET)—barely broke down at all, even though microbes coated their surfaces. This matters because not all "biodegradable" plastics actually break down quickly in real-world waterways, meaning many plastics we use daily may persist in the environment (and eventually as microplastics we're expos
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