Oxo-degradation refers to the breakdown mechanism caused by heat, light or oxygen on plastics that contain additives that accelerate the process of breaking them into smaller fragments called microplastics.
[citation needed] It describes ordinary plastics which abiotically degrade by oxidation in the open environment and create microplastics, but do not become biodegradable except over a very long period of time.
Some studies suggest that instead of fully biodegrading, oxo-degradable plastics tend to fragment into smaller pieces, including microplastics, which can persist in the environment.
[6] Concerns have also been raised about the potential effects of microplastics on ecosystems, as well as the risk of bioaccumulation in food chains, which could impact both human health and the environment.
[3] In December 2020 Symphony Environmental Technologies filed a lawsuit against the European Commission, arguing that the prohibition was arbitrary and unlawful.
[16] As of July 15, 2024, British Columbia businesses can no longer sell or distribute any packaging or single-use disposable products that contain oxo-degradable plastics.