A Ticking Environmental Time Bomb

Over 353 million tons of plastic are generated each year, with the vast majority finding its final resting place in landfills or oceans. There, conventional plastics and durable carbon-based polymers persist for centuries, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in anaerobic conditions and entangling or poisoning marine life.

The Pitfalls of “Biodegradable” Labels

Despite growing interest in biodegradable plastics, many products fall short of expectations:

  • Some "biodegradable" or “bioplastics” don't biodegrade outside industrial compost systems or may fragment into harmful microplastics in natural settings.

  • Biobased plastics often share the same chemical additives and environmental issues as fossil-based plastics, and sometimes even pose health risks.

  • Infrastructure gaps make proper composting rare, only ~3% of U.S. residents have access to industrial composting for biodegradable items like cups or packaging. 

Engineering Real Biodegradation in Real Environments

Pristine® is a biodegradable plastic additive that delivers on its promise. Unlike many alternatives that rely on labeling, Pristine® is designed specifically for performance in landfills and marine environments where most discarded plastics actually end up.

  • The additive stimulates microbial biofilm formation on plastic surfaces, triggering quorum sensing and enzymatic biodegradation of polymer chains into biomass, water, and CO₂ without producing microplastics .

  • It has been independently tested under ASTM D5511, D5338, and D6691 protocols, demonstrating significantly accelerated biodegradation rates in landfill and marine conditions.

  • Compatible across a wide range of plastics (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC, PET, ABS, and more) Pristine® integrates seamlessly into existing manufacturing processes, costing just fractions of a penny per unit with no change in product shelf life.

What This Means for Brands and the Planet

Pristine® doesn’t replace recycling, it enhances sustainability by providing a robust failsafe when recycling isn't accessible. As governments push for stricter regulation of plastic waste and greater transparency in biodegradability claims, Pristine® positions companies ahead of the curve with credible, certified solutions.

  • Accountable brands can adopt packaging that actively reduces long-term waste, aligns with sustainability messaging, and earns consumer trust.

  • Regulators and policymakers can support technologies like Pristine® that fulfill true biodegradability in real-world settings, not only in lab conditions.

  • Consumers and ecosystems benefit from less persistent plastic pollution, fewer microplastics, and reduced risks to wildlife.

With public scrutiny over misleading biodegradable claims on the rise and mounting scientific evidence that many "bioplastics" fall short, Pristine® stands out as a validated additive that transforms the durability of plastic into biodegradation where it matters most: landfills and marine environments.