Call for partners | The environmental fate of biodegradable plastics and their effect on the microplastics problem

The societal acceptance of biodegradable products is notably affected by growing concerns on the amounts of microplastics found in the environment, their accumulation and their impact on ecosystems or human health. Typically these microplastics originate from non-degradable fossil- based plastics.

Biodegradable plastics are designed to fragment during use or at end-of-life, to be subsequently further metabolized and taken up in the biological carbon cycle. But what happens to these plastic products when they are released into the environment, disintegrated into smaller particles, and we can no longer see them?

Focus and objective

This project will develop methods that provide insight into the environmental fate of disintegrated biodegradable plastics and whether they potentially contribute to the microplastic problem. These insights are crucial for the acceptance of biodegradable plastics and will influence regulations regarding biodegradable plastics.

We are looking for project partners that want to gain more knowledge on the environmental safety and biodegradation behavior of their products. We aim to connect with material producers, and companies that use plastics that have a high risk of ending up in the environment.