After three years buried in soil or submerged in seawater, biodegradable and oxo-biodegradable bags were still intact enough to carry groceries, directly undermining 'biodegradable' marketing claims.
A landmark ACS Environmental Science & Technology study exposed biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable, compostable, and conventional plastic bags to soil, seawater, and open air for three years. Most bags, including those marketed as biodegradable, remained intact, exposing the gap between degradation claims and real-world performance.
