Position Papers
Comparison of Oxo-Biodegradable and
Hydro-Biodegradable Plastics
| OXO | HYDRO |
| Usually made from a by-product of oil-refining | Usually made from starch |
| Can be recycled as part of a normal plastic waste-stream | Damages recyclate unless extracted from feedstock |
| Can be made from recyclate | Cannot be made from recyclate |
| Emits CO2 slowly while degrading | Emits CO2 rapidly while degrading |
| Inert deep in landfill | Emits methane deep in landfill |
| Can use same machinery and workforce as for conventional plastic | Needs special machinery and worforce |
| Suitable for use in high-speed machinery | Not suitable |
| Compostable in-vessel | Compostable |
| Little or no on-cost | Four or five times more expensive than conventional plastic |
| Same strength as conventional plastic | Weaker than conventional plastic |
| Same weight as conventional plastic | Thicker and Heavier |
| Leak-proof | Prone to leakage |
| Degrades anywhere on land or sea | Degrades only in high-microbial environment |
| Time to degrade can be set at manufacture | Cannot be controlled |
| No genetically modified ingredients | Possibility of GM ingredients |
| Safe for food contact | Safe for food contact |
| No PCB's Organo-chlorines, or "heavy metals" | No PCB's Organo-chlorines, or "heavy metals" |
| Can be incinerated with high energy-recovery | Can be incinerated, but lower calorific value |
| Production uses no fertilisers, pesticides or water | Production uses fertilisers, pesticides and water |
| No limit on availability of feedstock | Limited availability of feedstock |
| Demand for oxo-biodegradable plastics does not drive up cost of fuel for vehicles | Demand for hydro-biodegradable plastics drives up price of human and animal foodstuffs. |