Oxo-biodegradable plastics, such TDPA™ plastics, undergo both degradation and biodegradation in the open environment. Upon completion of biodegradation, TDPA™ plastics do not accumulate micro-plastics, instead forming carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
It is understood that ECHA had not found evidence of micro-plastics formation from oxo-degradable plastics when their study was prematurely terminated. Moreover, a 2017 report commissioned by the ECHA acknowledged that “the debate … should move forward from the assertion that [oxo-biodegradable] plastics merely fragment”.
