Curated published research on the environmental and health impacts of single-use plastics, and the science behind greenwashing claims for oxo-degradable and PLA materials. Updated weekly.
Plastic straws persist for centuries and fragment into microplastics that contaminate soil, water, and the food chain.
Read summary →A decade of research validates the performance of biodegradable materials as credible replacements for single-use plastics.
Read summary →Only 6% of plastic is actually recycled globally; single-use bags remain one of the most widespread sources of contamination.
Read summary →Microplastic particles documented causing harm to the digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems in peer-reviewed systematic review.
Read summary →Humans ingest the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic weekly; microplastics accumulate in blood, lungs, placenta, and brain tissue.
Read summary →People with microplastics in arterial plaque were 4.5× more likely to experience heart attack, stroke, or death over 3 years.
Read summary →Oxo-biodegradable plastics do not biodegrade — they fragment into persistent microplastics. The ‘biodegradable’ label is systematic greenwashing.
Read summary →PLA requires industrial composting above 60°C to fully biodegrade. Broad ‘biodegradable’ marketing claims are misleading — it persists in natural environments.
Read summary →PLA degradation in soil or water takes over two years under best conditions — exposing the gap between PLA marketing claims and scientific reality.
Read summary →SAYHAY® replaces them with certified home-compostable biopolymers made from agricultural waste — no PLA, no PFAS, no fossil fuels.
