• degradation
A process involving a significant change in structure and loss of properties (e.g. integrity, relative molecular mass, structure, or mechanical strength) over a period of time and involving one or more steps, as a result of environmental conditions.
• biodegradation
The degradation caused by biological activities, especially the action of enzymes, causes significant changes in the chemical structure of the material.
Due to the gradual digestion of the material by microorganisms or certain organisms as a nutrient source, resulting in mass loss, degradation of properties such as physical properties, etc., and eventually lead to the decomposition of the material into simpler compounds or elements, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or/and methane (CH4), water (H2O) and the mineralized inorganic salts of the elements they contain, as well as new biomass.
• Ultimate aerobic biodegradation
Under aerobic conditions, the material is eventually broken down by microorganisms into mineralized inorganic salts of carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and the elements it contains, and new biomass.
• Ultimate anaerobic biodegradation
Under hypoxic conditions, the material is eventually decomposed by microorganisms into mineralized inorganic salts of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water (H2O), and the elements it contains, and new biomass.
biological treatability – Biological treatability
The potential of the material for composting under aerobic conditions or biodigestion under anaerobic conditions.
• deterioration – deterioration
A permanent change in the loss of physical properties exhibited by plastics due to damage to certain structures.
• disintegration
The material physically breaks into extremely fine fragments.
• compost (compost)
Organic soil conditioner derived from the biological decomposition of mixtures. The mixture consists mainly of plant residues, and sometimes also contains some organic materials and certain inorganic substances.
• composting
An aerobic treatment to produce compost.
• Composting ability – compostability
The ability of materials to be biodecomposed during composting.
If a composting capability is claimed, it must be shown that the material is biodegradable and disintegrating in the composting system (as indicated by standard test methods) and is fully biodegradable in the composting end use. Compost must meet relevant quality standards, such as low heavy metal content, no biological toxicity, and no clearly distinguishable residues.
• degradable plastic
Plastics that, over a period of time and involving one or more steps, result in significant changes in the chemical structure of the material resulting in loss of certain properties (such as integrity, molecular mass, structure or mechanical strength) and/or breakage under specified environmental conditions. They should be tested using standard test methods that reflect changes in performance and classified according to degradation mode and life cycle.
See biodegradable plastics; Compostable plastic; Thermo-oxygen degradation plastics; Photodegradable plastics.
• biodegradable plastic
Degradation under natural conditions such as soil and/or sand, and/or under specific conditions such as composting conditions or anaerobic digestion conditions or aqueous medium, caused by the action of microorganisms present in nature, And eventually completely degrade into carbon dioxide (CO2) or/and methane (CH4), water (H2O) and mineralized inorganic salts of the elements they contain, as well as new biomass plastics.
See also: Degradable plastics.
• heat- and/or oxide- degradable plastic
Plastics degraded by heat and/or oxidation.
See also: Degradable plastics.
• photo-degradable plastic sheet
Plastics degraded by natural sunlight.
See also: Degradable plastics.
• compostable plastic
A plastic that can be degraded and disintegrated under composting conditions due to biological reaction processes, and eventually completely decomposed into carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and the mineralized inorganic salts of the elements contained in them, as well as new biomass, and the heavy metal content, toxicity test, residual debris, etc. of the compost finally formed must meet the provisions of the relevant standards.
• Biodegradable bag/Compostable bag
Biodegradable bags refer to environmentally friendly bags made of materials that can interact with microorganisms (such as bacteria, mold, etc.) and be degraded under natural conditions
