The idea of a “biodegradable” plastic suggests a material that would degrade to little or nothing over a period of time, posing less of a hazard to wildlife and the environment. This is the sort of ...

The business world rarely yields good news, at least when it comes to environmental issues, so this recent story from PR Newswire was quite welcome. It says that the market for biodegradable plastic ...

Plastic bags that claim to decompose might not actually be degrading in the way you might expect. A recent study has shown that some "biodegradable" plastic bags are surviving up to three years. The ...

Modern synthetic resins are made from fossil sources, are not biodegradable and can only be burned under strict precautions due to the release of toxic substances. Scientists have now discovered a ...

Laura DiMugno is a journalist who writes about energy, the environment, travel, and technology. She is the founder of Keep It Green, a blog devoted to conservation, sustainability, and culture.

The difference between biobased and biodegradable plastics is confusing to the average consumer, to say the least. When I read a new report claiming that consumers are demanding “environmentally ...

Once thrown out, biodegradable products — everything from trash bags and diaper liners to pens — are designed to break down relatively quickly and disappear into the natural environment. But these ...

Have you picked up a product at the supermarket which claims to have plant-based or biodegradable packaging? You might think you’re doing a favour for the environment. But the makers of bioplastics ...

A recent Plastics News article [``Officials: Some mislabel bags as biodegradable,'' Page 4, June 11] was critical of the misuse of American Society for Testing and Materials standards by some sellers ...

File another one under “good intentions gone awry.” At lunch events, campus picnics, and in dining halls, colleges have distributed biodegradable utensils. But the cutlery isn’t, well, cutting the ...