Polymateria additive enables plastic biodegradation in two years

A study conducted by Imperial College London, Malaysia’s Standards and Industrial Research Institute (SIRIM), and the UK biotechnology company Polymateria suggests that common plastics can biodegrade in soil within two years when treated with a specific additive.

The research focused on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), which are widely used in packaging such as bags, cups, straws, and films. The study found that incorporating Polymateria’s “Biotransformation” additive allowed these materials to break down significantly faster than untreated plastics. However, researchers note that the effectiveness is limited to specific plastic types and requires further scrutiny regarding the safety of the resulting byproducts for soil life and ecosystems.