Plastic types and biodegradation

Some plastics produced from fossil fuels or biomass can biodegrade under the right conditions. Just because a plastic is made from a biomass does not mean it is automatically biodegradable. This can be confusing for consumers who are trying to make good decisions around reducing plastic pollution.

Image from Plastics in the Environment: Te Ao Hurihuri – The Changing World. Royal Society Te Apārangi