Foreign development of environmentally degradable plastics began in the 1970s, when the main development of photodegradable plastics was aimed at solving the environmental problems caused by plastic waste, especially disposable plastic packaging products; by the 1980s, development research turned to biodegradation. Plastics are the mainstay. In addition, biodegradable plastics produced by microbial fermentation have also been developed. A class of medical plastics that have been clinically used for biodegradation, such as polylactic acid, has also attracted attention and it is hoped that it can be used to solve the problem of environmental pollution of plastics. From the perspective of degradable plastics being a new class of plastics, biodegradable plastics may also be included. It may be desirable to classify degradable plastics from use into environmental (natural) degradable plastics and biodegradable (environmentally) degradable plastics. The latter has been used medically for surgical sutures, artificial bones, and the like.
The development and research of degradable plastics in China is basically in sync with the world. However, the research and development of China's degradable plastics began with agricultural mulch. In the 1970s, the development of photodegradable plastic film was started. Before and after 1990, biodegradable plastic filled with starch was used. At the same time, based on photodegradable plastics, both photodegradation and biodegradation were developed. Functional mulch. At present, all kinds of degradable plastic film are under development, and they are still in the stage of application demonstration and promotion. In recent years, with the improvement of the living standards of the Chinese people, the problem of environmental pollution caused by disposable plastic packaging products has become increasingly serious, and for this reason, it is also actively developing degradable plastic products such as garbage bags that are mainly used for disposable packaging. Shopping bags, lunch boxes, etc.