The biodegradability of new bio-based materials developed by the Natural Resources Institute Finland has been studied at the end of their life cycle. The results show that many of the materials designed to replace plastics biodegrade efficiently under aerobic conditions, but considerably more slowly under anaerobic, landfill-like conditions.
The study examined fibre-, mycelium- and gelatin-based materials using standardised biodegradability tests. Most of the fibre- and mycelium-based materials biodegraded well in soil conditions, with several materials exceeding 80 per cent biodegradability within 90 days. The results highlight the importance of end-of-life treatment conditions when assessing the biodegradability of materials.
The study was carried out as part of the PlastLIFE project, and the testing was conducted by Measurlabs. The results provide important information on the biodegradability and circular economy potential of new materials that can replace plastics.
