The plastic that looks like biodegradable
Ce plastique faussement biodégradable
Résumé
For many years now, scientific articles have been published on the potential biodegradability of polyethylene. Polyethylene with peroxydant additives, in the form of agricultural films, is sold by various suppliers as biodegradable mulch. Even though, the photo-chemical and thermal degradation of these products under artificial laboratory conditions is highlighted, several extrapolation on the biodegradation and, moreover, on the neutral environmental impact of PE are made. The first conclusions are that a very low degree of biodegradation of the commercial PE films is achieved from these tests and that crosslinked PE micro-fragments are found in soil after a very long period of time.
Condamné aux Etats-Unis pour publicité mensongère, un plastique aux vertus très controversées, le polyéthylène additivé, a fait une entrée fracassante en Europe. Vendu comme biodégradable par les industriels, il envahit les terres agricoles et pourrait polluer définitivement les sols.