An Eco-Friendly Marvel or a Misunderstanding? The Truth You Need to Know

"Degradable plastic bag" is an umbrella term for products that vary significantly in their technological pathways and are not all fully environmentally friendly. Currently, market products can be primarily categorized into the following two types:

1. Biodegradable Plastics (The Mainstream Direction)
   This is the current mainstream promoted by both policy and technology. Common materials include Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate (PBAT), or a blend of the two. They require specific conditions (such as in industrial composting facilities at 50-60°C with certain humidity and microbial activity) to completely decompose into water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter within a few months. If discarded into the natural environment at will, their degradation rate is no different from that of conventional plastics.

2. Photodegradable/Oxodegradable Plastics (Subject to Controversy)
   This type involves adding photosensitizers or oxidizing agents to conventional plastics (like PE), aiming to make them fragment into small particles (i.e., "disintegrate") through light exposure or oxidation. However, numerous studies indicate that this primarily leads to the "microplasticization" of plastic, failing to achieve complete decomposition into organic matter and potentially exacerbating environmental pollution. Consequently, it has been restricted or phased out by policies in China and several other countries.