Biodegradable or Not? Investigating Degradation Under Simulated Indian Storage and Disposal Environments

With over 400 million tonnes of plastic garbage produced worldwide per year, a great amount of it stays in the environment for millennia (UNEP 2024), plastic pollution poses a threat to ecosystems and human health. With little infrastructure for recycling and safe disposal, India alone produces over 3.5 million tonnes of plastic garbage yearly (CPCB). Biodegradable plastics offer an alternative by potentially reducing long-term waste accumulation and associated hazards. However, in India, awareness, availability, and scientific validation of biodegradable plastics remain limited (ISSD). Many of the products marketed as biodegradable lack transparent performance data, particularly in India-relevant conditions, including dry heat and chemical exposure generally experienced during storage and disposal in landfills. This study aims to bridge this gap by analyzing the degradation rate of a certified biodegradable packaging material. Using industry-provided data and new experiments, the project evaluates the material?s performance under controlled dry heat and chemical environments. Approved by the sponsoring company, the sample under investigation presents a chance to produce repeatable data that could guide consumer behaviour as well as policy decisions in the sustainable packaging market of India. The material is experimented by manipulating aging circumstances and observing physical, chemical, and visual degradation throughout time in order of experimental approach. Initial findings should support if the material can satisfy performance criteria under Indian market settings. Ultimately, the study contributes to the growing body of knowledge needed to support the responsible adoption of biodegradable plastics in India.