Zeitschrift für Bioremediation und biologischen Abbau

Abstrakt

Biodegradation of plastics

Khaled Mohamed

Plastic pollution of marine and terrestrial environments has sparked debate about the possibility of utilising biodegradable polymers instead of traditional, nonbiodegradable plastics to reduce pollution. While we find these conversations to be beneficial and forward-thinking, we have seen that a number of recently published pieces have failed to fully acknowledge the foundation. These articles are divided into two groups. The first group includes articles that purport to evaluate plastic biodegradation but fail to include the necessary experimental data (i.e., data on microbial assimilation of plastic carbon). The biodegradability of certified biodegradable plastics is questioned in publications in the second category, based on discoveries of insufficient biodegradation polymers. Based on insufficient biodegradation of these plastics in conditions other than those for which they were certified biodegradable we are afraid that such publications, especially when they receive a lot of media attention, would misdirect the entire discussion about the role of biodegradable plastics in reducing plastic pollution, leading to misunderstandings and, eventually, adversity.