Feature Story | 12-May-2025

Science, soil, and sustainability: Global experts tackle the biodegradable plastics puzzle

Prof. Yong Sik Ok’s team advances biodegradable plastics, stressing the urgent need for science-backed sustainability strategies

Cactus Communications

Biodegradable plastic in soils: sources, degradation, and effects — **image:**
Biodegradable plastic degradation in soils is a complex process. Without effective management, its degradation can pose risks to human health and the ecosystem, impacting soil quality, food safety, and environmental sustainability
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Credit: Prof. Yong Sik Ok from Korea University

Biodegradable plastics (BPs) are widely promoted as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics—but how “green” are they, really? As the world grapples with escalating plastic pollution, major industry players like BASF, Novamont, LG Chem, SK GeoCentric, and CJ Cheiljedang have ramped up production of so-called sustainable materials. This surge aligns with international efforts to establish cohesive environmental policies favoring alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics.

Central to these efforts is the promotion of reusable, compostable, and biodegradable materials. However, as demand for BPs rises, so do concerns about whether they can truly deliver on their environmental promises. Without rigorous scientific scrutiny, BPs risk functioning more as greenwashing tools than genuine solutions.

In a recently published article, “Biodegradable Plastic in Soils: Sources, Degradation, and Soil Effects”, in the Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts (Royal Society of Chemistry), a global team led by Prof. Yong Sik Ok—President of the International ESG Association (IESGA) and Korea Biochar Research Center, and a pioneer in soil plastic research—offer a critical review of the interactions between BPs and the soil ecosystem, as well as their potential consequences for soil health and food security.

“Plastic pollution is no longer limited to our oceans; soil has become a silent repository. It is imperative that the promise of BPs is supported by rigorous science,” says Prof. Ok.

This study marks a pivotal step towards understanding BPs-soil dynamics, addressing key issues such as the release of additives, particle fragmentation, and the impacts on microbial communities. These findings suggest that, due to the limited research on the long-term effects of BPs on soil health, much eco-friendly claims remain unsupported—raising critical concerns about premature “green” marketing and potential greenwashing.

Diving into soil management
Addressing the pressing issue of microplastics in soil, Prof. Ok has conducted extensive research promoting sustainable soil management. His work focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity to ensure equitable food supply for the booming world population. In a Nature special issue titled “Soils in Food Systems”, Prof. Ok underscored the essential role of soil resources in securing global food security and achieving environmental sustainability.

Global effort backed by national innovation
Building on this seminal body of work, Prof. Ok and his team are spearheading major research initiatives to advance sustainable plastic technologies. One such project, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) by Korea government (MSIT) (RS-2025-00555967) named as “Optimization of Plastic Degradation in Soil Environments”, aims to optimize plastic degradation in soil by examining the complex interactions between BPs and soil ecosystems under real-world conditions.

A call for responsible innovation
The message is clear: While BPs offer a promising solution to pollution; they must undergo rigorous scientific evaluation. Without solid data, they risk becoming just another false promise. The research team urges policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to adopt a science-first approach, ensuring that sustainability claims are grounded in measurable environmental benefits rather than hopeful narratives.

Prof. Ok’s early research on the interactions between BPs and soil has been widely recognized, with several high-impact articles published in leading peer-reviewed international journals. These foundational studies continue to inspire and shape the advancements in this critical field.

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References

Title of original paper: Sustainable thermochemical plastic valorization towards a circular economy: a critical review

Journal: Green Chemistry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4GC06070A