Microplastics?

All plastics — whether biodegradable or not — will eventually break down during their degradation process. Over time, they form particles smaller than 5 mm, known as microplastics. Not all microplastics are harmful. In fact, microplastics derived from the biobased material PLA can biodegrade or be composted.

Our biobased BIOCOVERS®are designed for specific uses: weed control and geotextile applications, not for short-term or temporary uses such as certain packaging or agricultural films that are plowed under after harvest.

After a certain lifespan, and if left in nature, our PLA-based fabrics will gradually degrade. They will break down into smaller segments which, due to their size, may be classified as microplastics. However, PLA microplastics are not harmful to flora, fauna, or the human body (see below: “Is PLA harmful for the human body?”).

Unlike oil-based nonwovens, PLA-based nonwovens will continue to break down — in the presence of sufficient moisture, temperature, and microorganisms — into naturally occurring elements (water, CO₂, and compost). This process is known as composting.

What is clear and certain:

  • Oil-based plastics will eventually break down into microplastics that will never be biodegradable or compostable.
  • PLA biobased plastics will also fragment into microplastics, but under suitable composting conditions, they will further biodegrade into water, CO₂, and compost.
  • Even if PLA-based plastics degrade slowly due to lack of heat or moisture, these biobased microplastics do not pose a threat to human health or the environment (see below).

 

Can PLA Microplastics Be Harmful to the Human Body?

For our applications in landscaping, a long-lasting biopolymer like PLA is essential. PLA has a sufficiently long lifespan for climates across Southern, Central, and Northern Europe.

PLA degrades slowly in European conditions, but that doesn’t mean it won’t eventually biodegrade or compost.
We intentionally use a slow-degrading biopolymer like PLA because our products are meant to last. As a result, PLA may fragment into microplastics — but unlike oil-based plastics, these fragments are not, and will not become, harmful to the human body.

 

Is PLA harmful to the human body?

The answer is clearly: NO.
The same PLA biopolymer used in our Biocovers is also used in highly regulated food and medical applications, such as:

  • Tea bags: In Europe, many tea bags are now made from PLA. These bags are steeped in near-boiling water that is then consumed — meaning PLA enters our digestive system. These are approved by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), known for its strict health and toxicity standards.
  • Food packaging: Used for products such as yogurt containers and coffee capsules.
  • Medical applications: PLA is used in medical wipes and even implants placed inside the human body.

Other examples where PLA may enter the human system include: