The researchers at University College London (UCL) also said that citizens are confused about the labels of compostable and biodegradable plastics, leading to incorrect plastic waste disposal.
A recent OECD report showed that plastic consumption has quadrupled over the past 30 years and yet only 9 per cent of plastic waste is recycled globally. Some 50 per cent ends up in landfills, 22 per cent evades waste management systems, and 19 per cent is incinerated.
In response to this pollution crisis, several countries have set targets to eliminate all single-use plastics and to make plastic packaging 100 per cent recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025.
Compostable plastics are becoming more common as the demand for sustainable products grows. The main applications of compostable plastics include food packaging, bags, cups and plates, cutlery, and bio-waste bags. But there are some fundamental problems with these types of plastics and they are largely...