Today, the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance (BFA) has taken a position on Oxo-Degradable Additives. Oxo-degradable additives are substances added to conventional plastics with the intention of promoting oxidation, which brittles and fragments materials with the intention of enabling fragments to be digested by microorganisms.
BFA supports the responsible development of plastics made from plant material and works to build a more sustainable future for the bioplastics industry. BFA has taken the step of aligning on this issue even though it is out of the direct scope of the Alliance’s focus, due to our concern about these additives.
The statement specifically notes:
- While these additives have been promoted as a solution to marine and terrestrial pollution, there is no credible evidence that these additives result in environmentally advantageous outcomes.
- These additives cause plastics to fragment into microplastics, but there is no evidence they enable full degradation of materials.
- The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and 150+ organizations are in alignment with the BFA that oxo-degradable plastic is not consistent with circular systems and is not a viable solution to any type of pollution.
Marine and terrestrial waste is an urgent issue that can have a range of impacts on the environment and human health, however, oxo-degradable additives are not the solution to this challenge. Please see the full position here.
To learn more about the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance, please visit: https://bioplasticfeedstockalliance.org/.