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Increasing the production of biodegradable plastics will not solve China's plastic pollution crisis, so a new report from Greenpeace East Asia. If the rush to manufacture biodegradable plastics continues, China's e-commerce industry is on track to produce an estimated 2025 million tons of biodegradable plastic waste annually by 5, the report reveals.
"Switching from one type of plastic to another cannot solve the plastic pollution crisis we are facing," said plastics researcher Dr. Molly Zhongnan Jia from Greenpeace East Asia. “Many biodegradable plastics require certain temperature and humidity conditions to decompose that cannot be found in nature. Without controlled composting facilities, most biodegradable plastics end up in landfills, or worse, in rivers and the ocean. "
The term "biodegradable plastic" can be misleading, according to Greenpeace: The majority of biodegradable plastics can only be degraded within six months under certain conditions, for example in controlled composting plants at temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius and carefully controlled humidity conditions. China has few such facilities. In typical conditions like landfills, biodegradable plastics can stay intact for much longer than six months.
China's biodegradable plastics industry has seen explosive growth in recent years, driven by legislation to reduce the volume of plastic waste. Various types of single-use plastics were banned in January 2020, in large cities until the end of 2020 and nationwide until 2025. In particular, “degradable plastics” are exempt from the single-use plastic ban.
36 companies are planning new production facilities for biodegradable plastics in China with an additional production capacity of more than 4,4 million tons, a seven-fold increase in less than 12 months.
"This onslaught of biodegradable materials has to stop," said Dr. Jia. “We need to carefully assess the effects and potential risks of mainstreaming these materials and make sure we are investing in solutions that actually reduce plastic waste. Reusable packaging systems and reducing overall plastic use are more promising strategies for keeping plastic out of landfills and the environment. "
Greenpeace East Asia urges businesses and the government to develop clear plans of action to address the whole Plastic consumption to reduce, prioritize the development of reusable packaging systems, and ensure that manufacturers are financially responsible for the waste they generate.
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Photos: Greenpeace
