ABSTRACT
Biodegradability in concert with disposal options like composting (compostable plastic), offers a viable, end-of-life option to completely remove single use, short-life disposable products like packaging and consumer articles from the environmental compartment via microbial assimilation. However, not all bio-based polymers are biodegradable, and not all biodegradable polymers are bio-based. Most importantly, complete biodegradability (complete utilization of the polymer by the microorganisms present in the disposal environment) is necessary as per ASTM and ISO standards otherwise there will be serious health and environmental consequences.
