UK study raises doubts about biodegradable bags

Some supposedly biodegradable plastic bags are still strong enough to carry shopping items after being exposed in air, soil or sea for three years, scientists in the United Kingdom have found.

Research carried out by the University of Plymouth's International Marine Litter Research Unit has raised the question of whether the public has been misled about green issues, and whether biodegradable formulations can be relied on as a solution to the problem of plastic litter, The Guardian newspaper said.

The study, recently published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, was the first to test compostable bags, biodegradable bags and conventional carrier bags after long-term exposure to natural environments.