Some supermarkets are using biodegradable plastic bags
Urban Images/Alamy
Biodegradable plastics that break down into microplastics appear to damage soil and affect plant growth more than conventional plastics, at least in the short term.
Global plastic production is expected to reach 400 million tons in 2022, most of which cannot be recycled. Large pieces of plastic released into the environment weather into smaller and smaller pieces that can become invisible to the naked eye.
To reduce this microplastic pollution, some industries are introducing biodegradable plastics called bioplastics, but bioplastics can sometimes do more harm than good.
