Terminology relating to degradable plastics

• Degradation

Under the influence of environmental conditions, after a certain period of time and including one or more steps, the structure changes significantly and the performance is lost (such as integrity, relative molecular weight, structure or mechanical strength).

Reference deterioration.

• Biodegradation

Degradation caused by biological activities, especially the action of enzymes, causes significant changes in the chemical structure of materials. Because the material is gradually digested by microorganisms or some organisms as the nutrient source, resulting in loss of quality, performance, such as physical performance degradation, and ultimately resulting in the material being decomposed into compounds or simple substances with relatively simple components, such as carbon dioxide (CO 2) or/and methane (CH 4), water (H 2O) and the mineralized inorganic salts of the elements contained in it, as well as new biomass.

• Ultimate aerobic biodegradation

Under aerobic conditions, the material is finally decomposed into carbon dioxide (CO 2), water (H 2O) and mineralized inorganic salts and new biomass by microorganisms.

• Ultimate anaerobic biodegradation

Under anoxic conditions, the material is finally decomposed by microorganisms into carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), water (H 2O) and the mineralized inorganic salts and new biomass of its elements.

• Biological treatment capacity -- biological treatment capacity

The potential of composting under aerobic conditions or biological digestion under anaerobic conditions.

• Deterioration

Permanent change of physical properties of plastics due to some structural damage.

• Disintegration

Physical fracture of the material into extremely fine fragments.

• Compost

Organic soil conditioner obtained from the biodegradation of mixture. The mixture is mainly composed of plant residues, and sometimes contains some organic materials and certain inorganic substances.

• Composting

An aerobic treatment method that produces compost.

• Composting capacity -- compostability

The ability of materials to be biodegraded during composting.

If the composting ability is claimed, it must be stated that the material can be biodegradable and disintegrated in the composting system (as shown in the standard test method), and is completely biodegradable in the final use of composting. Compost must meet relevant quality standards, such as low heavy metal content, no biological toxicity, and no obvious distinguishable residue.

• Degradable plastic

Under the specified environmental conditions, after a period of time and including one or more steps, leading to significant changes in the chemical structure of materials and loss of certain properties (such as integrity, molecular weight, structure or mechanical strength) and/or breakage of plastics. The standard test method that can reflect the performance change shall be used for testing, and its classification shall be determined according to the degradation mode and service cycle.

Reference biodegradable plastics; Compostable plastics; Thermo-oxidative degradable plastics; Photodegradable plastics.

• Biodegradable plastic

Under natural conditions such as soil and/or sandy soil, and/or specific conditions such as composting conditions or anaerobic digestion conditions or water-based culture medium, the degradation is caused by the action of microorganisms existing in nature, and finally completely degrades into carbon dioxide (CO 2) or/and methane (CH 4), water (H 2O) and the mineralized inorganic salts of its elements, as well as new biomass plastics.

Reference: degradable plastics.

• Heat - and/or oxygen - degradable plastic

Plastics degraded by heat and/or oxidation.

Reference: degradable plastics.

• Photo-degradable plastic sheet

Plastics degraded by natural sunlight.

Reference: degradable plastics.

• Composable plastic

A kind of plastic can be degraded and disintegrated under composting conditions due to the biological reaction process, and finally completely decomposed into carbon dioxide (CO 2), water (H 2O) and the mineralized inorganic salts of the elements contained in it, as well as new biomass, and the heavy metal content, toxicity test and residual fragments of the final compost must comply with the provisions of relevant standards.

Reference: degradable plastics.