Biodegradable plastics is one of the important research contents in the field of polymer materials at present, and its degradability directly affects the cultivability, safety and crop growth of soil. Therefore, all industries in China are actively promoting the use of biodegradable plastics to replace non-degradable plastics.

尤其今年2月份国家发改委有关加强塑料污染治理意见发布后，降解塑料的开发应用显得更为重要。与此同时，农业、化工、环保等行业专家、消费团体、消费者对市场上销售的降解塑料、生物可降解塑料产品的降解性、安全性也一直存在疑虑。

Especially after the National Development and Reform Commission issued its opinion on strengthening plastic pollution control in February this year, the development and application of degradable plastics became more important. At the same time, agricultural, chemical, environmental protection and other industry experts, consumer groups and consumers have doubts about the degradability and safety of degradable plastic and biodegradable plastic products sold on the market.

可生物降解塑料（或可堆肥降解塑料）制造的餐具，材料新颖又有环保概念，使用群体范围很大，从婴幼儿到老人都有，加上产品方式涉及人身安全，更受到社会和消费者的关注。

The tableware made of biodegradable plastics (or compostable degradable plastics) has novel materials and environmental protection concepts, and has a wide range of users, ranging from infants to the elderly. In addition, the product mode involves personal safety, which is more concerned by the society and consumers.

生物可降解塑料

Biodegradable plastics

生物可降解塑料是指在自然界如土壤/沙土等条件下，或特定条件下如堆肥、厌氧消化、水性培养液中，在自然界存在的微生物作用下引起降解，并终完全降解变成二氧化碳（CO2）、甲烷（CH4）、水（H2O）及所含元素的矿化无机盐及新的生物质的塑料。根据GB/T20197《降解塑料的定义、分类、标志和降解性要求》的技术要求，生物分解（降解）塑料的生物分解率必须大于60%。

Biodegradable plastic refers to plastic that is degraded under natural conditions such as soil/sandy soil, or under specific conditions such as compost, anaerobic digestion, and water-based culture solution under the action of microorganisms existing in nature, and finally completely degraded into carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water (H2O), mineralized inorganic salts containing elements and new biomass. According to the technical requirements of GB/T20197 "Definition, Classification, Marking and Degradability Requirements of Degradable Plastics", the biodegradation rate of biodegradable (degradable) plastics must be greater than 60%.

可堆肥降解塑料

Compostable degradable plastics

可堆肥降解塑料在可堆肥化条件下，由于生物反应过程，可被降解和崩解，并终完全分解成二氧化碳（CO2）、水（H2O）及其所含元素的矿化无机盐以及新的生物质，并且形成的堆肥的重金属含量、毒性试验、残留碎片等应符合相关标准规定。生物分解（降解）塑料的生物分解率也必须大于60%。

Under compostable conditions, compostable degradable plastics can be degraded and disintegrated due to the biological reaction process, and finally 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 fragments, etc. of the compost formed should comply with relevant standards. The biodegradation rate of biodegradable plastics must also be greater than 60%.

从定义可以看出，上述两种材料的降解原理基本相同，主要通过微生物作用引起的塑料降解，材料分解成小分子物质和新的生物质。上述两种材料在下文简称为“生物可降解塑料”。

It can be seen from the definition that the degradation principles of the above two materials are basically the same, mainly through plastic degradation caused by microbial action, and the materials are decomposed into small molecular substances and new biomass. These two materials are hereinafter referred to as "biodegradable plastics".

应用现状

Application status

到目前为此，国家对塑料餐具实行许可证制度。在生物可降解材料中，只有单一聚合物PLA（聚乳酸）可以用于制造餐具产品。但实际情况是在实体店和电商平台上，可以看到各种标称“生物可降解”“堆肥可降解”“环保安全产品”“绿色环保”等宣传或广告词的餐具产品，碗、碟、筷子、饭盒、餐盘等各式都有。很多消费者，尤其是注重环境保护家庭、年轻人，比较热衷于购买此类产品，产品受到市场的高度关注和追捧。

So far, the state has implemented a licensing system for plastic tableware. Among biodegradable materials, only a single polymer PLA (polylactic acid) can be used to manufacture tableware products. But the reality is that on the physical stores and e-commerce platforms, you can see various tableware products with the nominal "biodegradable", "compost degradable", "environmental safety products", "green environmental protection" and other promotional or advertising words, such as bowls, plates, chopsticks, lunch boxes, dinner plates, etc. Many consumers, especially families and young people who pay attention to environmental protection, are more enthusiastic about purchasing such products, and the products are highly concerned and sought after by the market.

主要成分和标识

Main ingredients and identification

从目前市场上销售的餐具产品看，其主要的材料成分有：可生物降解材料和非降解材料制成的混合塑料，如聚乳酸+聚丙烯、聚乳酸+密胺等；标称可全生物降解的混合物，如聚乳酸+淀粉（玉米、木薯）、聚乳酸+竹粉、聚乳酸+稻壳等；标称可生物降解的含有生物质的塑料，如聚丙烯+淀粉、聚丙烯+稻壳纤维等。

From the perspective of tableware products sold on the market at present, its main material components are: mixed plastics made of biodegradable and non-degradable materials, such as polylactic acid+polypropylene, polylactic acid+melamine, etc; Nominal biodegradable mixture, such as polylactic acid+starch (corn, cassava), polylactic acid+bamboo powder, polylactic acid+rice husk, etc; Nominal biodegradable plastics containing biomass, such as polypropylene+starch, polypropylene+rice hull fiber, etc.

产品说明书标注不一。有标识标注可使用微波，有标识标注不可使用微波；有标识注明餐具使用至高温度，有标识不注明使用温度；个别标识标注迁移量，如在正己烷、4%乙酸、水在70℃2h条件下的迁移量，绝大多数则不标注迁移条件和迁移量。

The product instructions are marked differently. Microwave can be used if there are signs and labels, and microwave cannot be used if there are signs and labels; There is a mark indicating the maximum temperature of tableware, and there is no mark indicating the use temperature; The migration amount is marked on individual labels, such as the migration amount of n-hexane, 4% acetic acid and water at 70 ℃ for 2h, while most of them do not mark the migration conditions and migration amount.