Ecological risks of biodegradable plastics | Science

The current draft of the global plastics treaty suggests that biodegradable plastics have the potential to end plastic pollution (1). This perception, combined with ever-rising consumer demand, has fueled biodegradable plastic production, which reached 2.47 million tonnes in 2024 and is projected to hit 5.73 million tonnes by 2029 (2). However, the widespread adoption of biodegradable plastics could pose ecological risks that must be addressed.