We are focusing on one of the recycling headlines in today's ESG & Climate Report referencing a collaboration between Mars Wrigley and Danimer Scientific. The news release highlights two important issues – using biodegradable polymers where they are most fit for purpose, in this case, single-use candy wrappers – and the need for consumer education. We already have a confusing set of labels for polymers, as summarized in the image below, and adding biodegradable plastics, which would contaminate a recycle stream even further, requires a huge leap of faith that consumers can not only identify the products that can be composted but are willing to do so.
There is a risk that other polymers get mistaken for biodegradable and get added to a compost stream where they will not decompose. There is also a risk that biodegradable polymers arrive at recycling facilities and involve an additional sorting step. Clear biodegradable labeling is needed, and we suggest that it does not look like one of the labels above.
