Certified Biodegradabls: Do They Really Work?

In recent years, biodegradable materials have become one of the symbols of the fight against plastic pollution. They are presented as a concrete solution, capable of reducing the impact of persistent waste in the environment.
But the question remains: do they really work, or are they just another green promise?

A recent report published by BB-REG-NET, titled “Addressing Persistent Plastic Pollution: The Case for Biodegradable Solutions”, attempts to answer this question with scientific data and real-world evidence.
According to the researchers, certified biodegradable materials do in fact break down in the environment, unlike conventional plastics that can persist for decades or even centuries.

Microplastics: The Invisible Problem

Microplastics are now everywhere in seas, rivers, soils, and even in the air. Tiny, almost invisible, yet extremely persistent.
As explained in the BB-REG-NET report, they can originate either from products that intentionally contain them, such as cosmetics or paints, or from the fragmentation of larger plastic items.

Their impact is far from negligible: they alter soil health, reduce water retention capacity, interfere with plant growth, and threaten aquatic life.
Some of the studies cited in the report also point out that microplastics can transport toxic substances such as heavy metals or persistent organic compounds with potential effects on the food chain and, ultimately, on human health.

That is why research on biodegradable materials is crucial. These polymers are designed to be “digested” by microorganisms, turning into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass.
In practice, they return to nature without leaving stable residues behind.

Biodegradables and Conventional Plastics: Not the Same Thing

Fragmentation is often confused with biodegradation. Both processes lead to the formation of microplastics, but in the case of biodegradable materials, these fragments are temporary, they are eventually broken down completely by microorganisms through mineralization.

As highlighted by Gail Shuttleworth, lead author of the report:

“Biodegradable microplastics are transitory. When they encounter the right environmental conditions, they mineralize completely. That’s the real difference with conventional plastics.”

From Theory to Practice: Three Case Studies

To verify whether theory works in real-life conditions, BB-REG-NET analyzed three practical applications:

1. Agricultural mulch films,

2. Biodegradable tree protectors,

3. Compostable materials in organic waste treatment plants.

The results are encouraging: when properly managed, these materials do not accumulate in the environment but degrade at a natural pace, leaving no permanent plastic residues.

1. Agricultural Mulch Films

Widely used in agriculture to maintain soil moisture and suppress weeds, traditional polyethylene mulch films tend to break apart, get lost in the fields, and accumulate in the soil.

This is why the European standard EN 17033:2018 was created: it requires that at least 90% of the organic carbon in the material be converted to CO₂ within 24 months under controlled conditions.

The BB-REG-NET report confirms that, although degradation in the field can take longer than in the lab, it does occur. After two to three years, no visible plastic residues remain in the soil.
Moreover, thanks to EU Regulation 1009/2019, certified biodegradable mulch films can even be classified as fertilizers, since they improve soil health rather than harm it.

2. Biodegradable Tree Protectors

In reforestation and forestry, conventional plastic tubes used to protect young trees have long been a problem: they’re hard to retrieve, prone to breaking, and often end up scattered in the environment.
Biodegradable alternatives made of paper, natural fibers, or PLA (polylactic acid) offer a far more sustainable solution.

The degradation process is slow but progressive. Under natural conditions, these materials gradually break down without releasing persistent microplastics.
Even if complete mineralization takes years, their environmental impact is significantly lower than that of plastic guards that can persist for decades.

The report highlights that, as reforestation initiatives linked to climate goals increase, biodegradable tree protectors represent a practical and realistic way to reduce plastic pollution in forests.

3. Composting

Industrial composting provides ideal conditions: high temperatures, humidity, and abundant microbial activity.
Here, the EN 13432:2000 standard applies — it requires that a compostable material disintegrate into particles smaller than 2 mm within 12 weeks and mineralize by at least 90% within six months.

The BB-REG-NET report confirms that certified materials meet these criteria. Even the small residues that remain in compost continue to degrade once released into the soil.
However, it is crucial that these materials enter the correct organic waste stream — if sent to landfill or incineration, their ecological function is lost.

Case Studies: Real-World Examples of Certified Biodegradability

Several Italian and European projects show that controlled biodegradation works in practice, delivering measurable environmental and agricultural benefits.

Renashe – Biodegradable Tree Protectors (Italy)

The Italian startup Renashe produces protective tubes for trees made of cardboard and natural fibers that are completely biodegradable.
Used in reforestation projects in Lombardy and Veneto, these protectors naturally degrade within a few years, preventing plastic waste accumulation in forests and reducing recovery costs.

Biorepack Consortium – The Italian Compostable Packaging Chain

Biorepack is the first European consortium dedicated exclusively to the organic recycling of compostable bioplastic packaging.
In 2024, 57% of compostable packaging placed on the Italian market was successfully recycled together with household organic waste — proving that the system can work at a national scale.
It’s a model of circular governance that brings together companies, local authorities, and citizens.

Conditions Matter

Being “biodegradable” does not mean dissolving everywhere and under all circumstances. The process depends on environmental factors: temperature, humidity, oxygen, and the presence of active microorganisms.
In cold or dry environments, degradation slows down — but it doesn’t stop. Eventually, the material will fully transform.

For this reason, certifications always specify the context of biodegradation: in soil, in water, in composting, or in marine environments.
Each system has different parameters, and labeling a material as “biodegradable” without specifying the context leads to confusion — and greenwashing.

The Value of Certification

Certifications help distinguish those who truly meet standards from those making superficial eco-friendly claims.
Standards EN 17033 and EN 13432 include rigorous testing — not only on degradation rates but also on ecotoxicity.
Only materials that pass these tests can be defined as genuinely biodegradable.

The report is clear: even conventional plastics should undergo equivalent end-of-life testing to enable fair comparison.
At present, traditional plastics are not required to demonstrate anything about their degradation, and this imbalance distorts the market.

Benefits and Limitations

BB-REG-NET does not present biodegradable materials as a miracle cure.
They will not solve the global plastic problem on their own — but they do represent a concrete and responsible path forward.
When used correctly, they help reduce microplastic accumulation and improve soil quality.

However, their success depends on proper management, awareness, and intelligent design.
Using a biodegradable material does not mean it can be carelessly discarded.
Adequate infrastructure and a well-organized treatment chain are essential.

Toward a Circular Bioeconomy

The report concludes with an optimistic vision: certified biodegradable and compostable materials are an essential part of the circular bioeconomy.
Many are derived from renewable resources and help reduce dependence on petroleum, contributing to the decarbonization of the plastics industry.

BB-REG-NET identifies four key steps to accelerate the transition:

1. Collaboration between industry, research, and regulatory bodies;

2. Development of specific standards for each application;

3. Long-term studies on environmental impacts;

4. Honest communication to prevent greenwashing.

Tondo’s Vision

For Tondo, an organization dedicated to circular innovation, this study provides important confirmation: science must guide change.
Certified biodegradable materials work — but only when embedded in a responsible, circular system.

They are not a free pass to consume without care, but a tool to truly change the way we produce, use, and regenerate resources.