The Use of Oxo-Degradable Plastics in Switzerland

Oxo-degradable plastics (ODP) are plastics containing pro-oxidant additives that allegedly promote fragmentation and subsequent biodegradation. However, in practice, ODP do not fully biodegrade under environmental or industrial composting conditions, and thus may serve as a source of microplastics in the environment. In addition, ODP can negatively impact recycling processes. Recently, the Single-Use Plastics Directive has been adopted by the European Parliament, stating that the placing on the market of all plastics containing additives, which through oxidation lead to fragmentation (i.e. ODP), will be prohibited. In this study, we investigate the occurrence of ODP in Switzerland and the feasibility of identifying ODP by using chemical analytical methods such as handheld XRF.