Bioplastics Can Still Harm Wildlife
While the term “biodegradable plastic” conjures up an image of a plastic bottle melting harmlessly away into the soil, bioplastic products can still pose a big problem for wildlife if they get into the ocean and waterways, especially if they are not biodegradable.
“A plastic bag whose polymer is made from sugar beets still looks like a jellyfish to a sea turtle and is still just as deadly,” Fox said.
And a common issue with conventional plastics in the environment—microplastics, tiny bits of plastics that have reached basically every place on our planet, including our own bloodstream—may still be a problem with bioplastics. While research is still developing on how bioplastics may contribute to the microplastics problem, somerecent studies have indicated that microplastics made from bioplastic materials could have similar effects on human health and ecosystems as conventional microplastics.
