Each day, more plastic products become part of our lives – and for good reason: plastics are strong, durable, and water resistant, all of which make them ideal for uses ranging from packaging to construction. These properties, however, also make plastics a major environmental challenge.
Inadequate waste management systems have led to millions of tons of plastics to accumulating in soil, rivers, and oceans every year. Once out in the open, plastics – especially for synthetic plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE) – can take decades or even centuries to break down. During this time, plastic waste can pollute your go-to local beach, entangle precious wildlife, and even enter our food chain.
But there is hope, as various groups are working on solutions – one of them being biodegradable plastics, which are innovative materials designed to break down more easily and therefore have reduced environmental impact compared to conventional plastics.
To understand the potential of biodegradable plastics, ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris team spoke with Dr Mohd Nurazzi Norizan. A polymer technology researcher with over 10 years of experience in integrating natural and synthetic materials into biocomposites, Dr Nurazzi explained why more efforts are needed to promote the widespread use of biodegradable plastics.
Dr Nurazzi: I am currently a Senior Lecturer in the Bioresource Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia. I completed my bachelor's and master’s degrees in Polymer Technology in University Teknologi MARA and got my PhD in Materials Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia. All of my research is on polymer composites and natural fibre composites.
I was introduced to sustainability and the utilisation of green materials through my master’s project, where I did some chemical modifications to the waste of PVC pipes, promoting it into a conducting filler or conductive coating. Afterwards, during my PhD, I focused on finding alternatives to metals or synthetic woven carbon fibre using natural fibres, particularly sugar palm fibre.
I first worked on the issue of biodegradability during the final project for my bachelor’s programme. I introduced a natural additive from curcumin into PP plastic bags to examine the degree of its degradation in soil under different weather conditions.
When plastics are disposed of, they can be degraded and broken down into smaller parts, into macro-, micro-, or even nanoplastics. This process can be triggered by physical force, high temperatures, exposure to sunlight, or decomposition by microorganisms. If a material can be crushed and ‘eaten’ by microorganisms and turned into simple molecules like water, carbon dioxide, or methane naturally, then we can say that it is biodegradable.
The most notable advantage of biodegradable plastics is their eco-friendly aspect. Since they degrade faster than petroleum-based plastics, they will take up fewer space at disposal sites or facilities, eventually reducing waste management costs. Furthermore, from a supply chain perspective, biodegradable plastics can reduce reliance on petroleum and help regulate oil prices.
Biodegradable plastics can be engineered to meet the physical property requirements of any targeted product. However, I think they should first be used to tackle the most prominent issue, which is packaging. We know that packaging makes up the largest proportion of plastic use, hence we need to prioritise the development of biodegradable food packaging, drinking bottles, or plastic bags.
Beyond that, there is potential in the medical sector, such as relief patches that degrade as we heal, triggered by moisture or abrasion. I am sure that the agriculture industry can also benefit from the use of biodegradable plastics for items like seedling bags, slow-release fertilisers, and plastic mulch.
I don’t think there would be such competition because the target materials for biocomposites are what we call biomass. The oil palm tree is one of Malaysia’s main commodities, but research on polymer materials from this tree does not utilise its main product, which is the palm fruit. We focus on making use of the oil palm tree’s derivative or waste, such as the trunk, to extract fibre or starch, which will then be synthesised to develop biodegradable materials. Incorporating natural fibres such as from the oil palm tree into a petroleum-based plastic polymer – for example, at levels of 10% to 30% of the total composition as a filler – can reduce the time the material takes to degrade into smaller pieces.
There are existing standards that biodegradable materials must meet to enter the market. One of them is the EN 13432 standard from Europe for compostable and biodegradable packaging. This standard, for example, requires the material to disintegrate to less than 10% of its original mass within six months and biodegrade within 12 months under home composting conditions. Perhaps ASEAN can also consider developing or harmonising a similar standard for biodegradable plastics in the future.
I believe certain countries have the technical capacity for industrial-scale production of biodegradable plastics. However, in my opinion, large-scale adoption of biodegradable materials depends on consumer perception, acceptance, and willingness to shift from conventional plastics.
The most crucial factor is awareness. Currently, biodegradable plastics are more expensive than conventional petroleum-based ones. For the market to be willing to pay for the price difference, the public needs to be informed about what biodegradable plastics are and why they matter – and this is our task. Instead of directly making a product made up of 100% biodegradable plastics, we can start with composites containing 10% biodegradable material and then slowly increase the proportion as public awareness grows.
One way to raise awareness is through government-led campaigns promoting the use of biodegradable plastics. This push will drive the industry to tackle the market – and creating the market demand is a very important first step. This campaign may initially target environmentally conscious groups, but with time, it can reach a wider audience.
In my opinion, we need to first separate the disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics – maybe not at the household level, but at the community level through dedicated collection points for biodegradable plastics waste. We need to have this kind of sorting mechanism. Afterwards, the biodegradable plastic composites can be further clustered by polymer type: PE, PP, PET, etc. Then, the municipality can prioritise recycling one of these polymers based on its resource circulation targets for something that can be given back to society. For example, PET could be recycled into materials for building a playground or other public facilities.
Yes, definitely. Unlike conventional plastics, biodegradable plastics can degrade in the environment and minimise waste, therefore helping preserve the environment as well as food and water security. By switching to biodegradable plastics, we can reduce our contribution to plastic pollution in soil, rivers, and oceans.
Again, to achieve this, awareness is key, so change really starts from us.
Senior Lecturer in Bioresource Technology at Universiti Sains Malaysia
Each day, more plastic products become part of our lives – and for good reason: plastics are strong, durable, and water resistant, all of which make them ideal for uses ranging from packaging to construction. These properties, however, also make plastics a major environmental challenge.
Inadequate waste management systems have led to millions of tons of plastics to accumulating in soil, rivers, and oceans every year. Once out in the open, plastics – especially for synthetic plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE) – can take decades or even centuries to break down. During this time, plastic waste can pollute your go-to local beach, entangle precious wildlife, and even enter our food chain.
But there is hope, as various groups are working on solutions – one of them being biodegradable plastics, which are innovative materials designed to break down more easily and therefore have reduced environmental impact compared to conventional plastics.
To understand the potential of biodegradable plastics, ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris team spoke with Dr Mohd Nurazzi Norizan. A polymer technology researcher with over 10 years of experience in integrating natural and synthetic materials into biocomposites, Dr Nurazzi explained why more efforts are needed to promote the widespread use of biodegradable plastics.
Dr Nurazzi: I am currently a Senior Lecturer in the Bioresource Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia. I completed my bachelor's and master’s degrees in Polymer Technology in University Teknologi MARA and got my PhD in Materials Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia. All of my research is on polymer composites and natural fibre composites.
I was introduced to sustainability and the utilisation of green materials through my master’s project, where I did some chemical modifications to the waste of PVC pipes, promoting it into a conducting filler or conductive coating. Afterwards, during my PhD, I focused on finding alternatives to metals or synthetic woven carbon fibre using natural fibres, particularly sugar palm fibre.
I first worked on the issue of biodegradability during the final project for my bachelor’s programme. I introduced a natural additive from curcumin into PP plastic bags to examine the degree of its degradation in soil under different weather conditions.
When plastics are disposed of, they can be degraded and broken down into smaller parts, into macro-, micro-, or even nanoplastics. This process can be triggered by physical force, high temperatures, exposure to sunlight, or decomposition by microorganisms. If a material can be crushed and ‘eaten’ by microorganisms and turned into simple molecules like water, carbon dioxide, or methane naturally, then we can say that it is biodegradable.
The most notable advantage of biodegradable plastics is their eco-friendly aspect. Since they degrade faster than petroleum-based plastics, they will take up fewer space at disposal sites or facilities, eventually reducing waste management costs. Furthermore, from a supply chain perspective, biodegradable plastics can reduce reliance on petroleum and help regulate oil prices.
Biodegradable plastics can be engineered to meet the physical property requirements of any targeted product. However, I think they should first be used to tackle the most prominent issue, which is packaging. We know that packaging makes up the largest proportion of plastic use, hence we need to prioritise the development of biodegradable food packaging, drinking bottles, or plastic bags.
Beyond that, there is potential in the medical sector, such as relief patches that degrade as we heal, triggered by moisture or abrasion. I am sure that the agriculture industry can also benefit from the use of biodegradable plastics for items like seedling bags, slow-release fertilisers, and plastic mulch.
I don’t think there would be such competition because the target materials for biocomposites are what we call biomass. The oil palm tree is one of Malaysia’s main commodities, but research on polymer materials from this tree does not utilise its main product, which is the palm fruit. We focus on making use of the oil palm tree’s derivative or waste, such as the trunk, to extract fibre or starch, which will then be synthesised to develop biodegradable materials. Incorporating natural fibres such as from the oil palm tree into a petroleum-based plastic polymer – for example, at levels of 10% to 30% of the total composition as a filler – can reduce the time the material takes to degrade into smaller pieces.
There are existing standards that biodegradable materials must meet to enter the market. One of them is the EN 13432 standard from Europe for compostable and biodegradable packaging. This standard, for example, requires the material to disintegrate to less than 10% of its original mass within six months and biodegrade within 12 months under home composting conditions. Perhaps ASEAN can also consider developing or harmonising a similar standard for biodegradable plastics in the future.
I believe certain countries have the technical capacity for industrial-scale production of biodegradable plastics. However, in my opinion, large-scale adoption of biodegradable materials depends on consumer perception, acceptance, and willingness to shift from conventional plastics.
The most crucial factor is awareness. Currently, biodegradable plastics are more expensive than conventional petroleum-based ones. For the market to be willing to pay for the price difference, the public needs to be informed about what biodegradable plastics are and why they matter – and this is our task. Instead of directly making a product made up of 100% biodegradable plastics, we can start with composites containing 10% biodegradable material and then slowly increase the proportion as public awareness grows.
One way to raise awareness is through government-led campaigns promoting the use of biodegradable plastics. This push will drive the industry to tackle the market – and creating the market demand is a very important first step. This campaign may initially target environmentally conscious groups, but with time, it can reach a wider audience.
In my opinion, we need to first separate the disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics – maybe not at the household level, but at the community level through dedicated collection points for biodegradable plastics waste. We need to have this kind of sorting mechanism. Afterwards, the biodegradable plastic composites can be further clustered by polymer type: PE, PP, PET, etc. Then, the municipality can prioritise recycling one of these polymers based on its resource circulation targets for something that can be given back to society. For example, PET could be recycled into materials for building a playground or other public facilities.
Yes, definitely. Unlike conventional plastics, biodegradable plastics can degrade in the environment and minimise waste, therefore helping preserve the environment as well as food and water security. By switching to biodegradable plastics, we can reduce our contribution to plastic pollution in soil, rivers, and oceans.
Again, to achieve this, awareness is key, so change really starts from us.
Senior Lecturer in Bioresource Technology at Universiti Sains Malaysia
