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Oxoplastics, Bioplastics, and their Potential of Microplastics Generation (Case Study: Indonesia)
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This paper reviews the use of oxo-degradable and bio-based plastics in Indonesia and their potential to generate microplastics, finding that degradable plastics may still fragment into persistent microplastic particles rather than fully breaking down. The authors argue that addressing Indonesia's plastic crisis requires attention to the limitations of so-called degradable alternatives.
Plastics are still becoming popular topic in public news. This was initiated by some sea-animals that was trapped by plastic straws, plastic fishing net, and the other plastic packaging. This plastics problem are starting to become global issue and escalate the awareness of people to reduce the plastics use. Some campaign of reducing plastic use are varied, such as starting a zero-waste lifestyle, banning plastics bags, and the other solution is using degradable plastics. Unfortunately, some of the degradable plastics just become a label and only part of greenwashing product. With the increasing issue of microplastics, this degradable plastics is still seen to be skeptical from some academic perspective. The other solution that becoming popular is using biodegradable plastics or bioplastics. This bioplastic is said to be a better option because it is made from natural substrate that easily degrade, edible, and claimed to be safer for the environment. But this claim is still need further research and also standardization of biodegradability definition. This review will provide about the definition of biodegradable plastics, the differences between oxoplastic and bioplastics; the implementation of bioplastic or oxoplastic product in Indonesia, and issue related to microplastic generation
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Researchers critically analyzed oxo-biodegradable polymers marketed as sustainable alternatives to high-density polyethylene, finding that their accelerated fragmentation under light, heat, and oxygen does not result in complete biodegradation but instead generates persistent microplastic particles that contaminate the environment.
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This review examines biodegradable plastics and their limitations, finding that many do not break down effectively under real-world environmental conditions and may still fragment into microplastics. The authors caution that biodegradable plastics should not be viewed as a simple solution to plastic pollution without better standards and end-of-life infrastructure.
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This critical review examines biodegradable plastics as an alternative to conventional plastics, finding that many do not fully degrade under real-world conditions and can fragment into microplastics more rapidly than their conventional counterparts.
Potential environmental impacts of bioplastic degradation in natural marine environments: A comprehensive review
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This review examines the environmental impacts of biodegradable plastics degrading in marine environments, finding that their microscale breakdown raises significant concerns about contributing to microplastic pollution rather than eliminating it. The authors conclude that biodegradable plastics require reevaluation as petroleum-based plastic substitutes given the incomplete understanding of their behavior at the microscale in marine ecosystems.
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This review challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are inherently eco-friendly by examining their degradation behavior in marine environments. Researchers found that biodegradable plastics often require specific conditions to break down and can themselves become sources of microplastic pollution when those conditions are not met. The study highlights a significant research gap in understanding the fate of biodegradable nano- and pico-plastics in marine ecosystems.
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