INTEC specialists warn about "greenwashing" in plastic products

 

SANTO DOMINGO – Specialists from Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) warned that numerous plastic products marketed as "ecological" or "environmentally friendly" can create a mistaken perception among consumers when they use terms such as "bio-based", "biodegradable" or "compostable" without meeting the technical criteria that distinguish each of these categories.

 

La Regional Technical Guide for the Identification of Bio-based Plastics, Bioplastics and Compostable Materials It points out that one of the main causes of misinformation in the market is the assumption that all bio-based plastics are biodegradable or compostable. However, the origin of the raw material and the ability to degrade are distinct characteristics that must be evaluated independently.

 

The document was prepared by the Environmental Management Center (CEGA) of INTEC, made up of experts Carmen Hernández Toirac, Diana Corrales Rosero, Pamela Tejada Tejada and Yaset Rodríguez Rodríguez, as a technical tool to promote the correct use of terminology related to bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

 

To help reduce this confusion, university researchers developed a regional technical guide within a project with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development and SICA-Azul, funded by the government of Taiwan, which proposes standardized definitions and scientific criteria for the correct identification of these materials.

 

Researchers explain that a bio-based plastic is one manufactured wholly or partially from renewable resources, such as plants or biomass, but this does not mean it will decompose naturally. Similarly, there are materials made from fossil resources that can be biodegradable if they meet certain chemical properties and are evaluated according to international standards.

 

The guide also clarifies that a biodegradable material is not necessarily compostable. While biodegradability refers to a material's ability to be broken down by microorganisms under specific conditions, compostability requires additional conditions, such as complete disintegration during the composting process, leaving no visible or toxic residues, and meeting international technical standards that certify its environmental performance.

 

As part of its recommendations, the document warns about the risk of so-called greenwashing, a practice by which some products use environmental messages or labels that can mislead about their ecological benefits.

 

In that regard, the guide recommends that a product with a reduced percentage of bio-based content should not be promoted as "eco-friendly" unless it demonstrates, through recognized methods, that it is also biodegradable or compostable.

 

It also proposes that claims about bio-based content be supported by evaluation methods and be reflected transparently in the labeling and technical information of the products.

 

To this end, the document brings together international standards that allow for the scientific verification of the properties of materials, including tests to determine their biodegradability under different environmental conditions and tests to certify industrial and domestic compostability.

 

"One of the greatest contributions of this guide is that it provides clarity on a topic where there is still much confusion. By having a common standard, consumers, companies, and authorities can truly understand these materials, which reduces misinformation and curbs greenwashing practices. Our goal is for decisions about bioplastics to be based on scientific evidence and not on commercial claims," ​​said Pamela Tejada, head of the Reactors and Bioreactors Laboratory and Biotechnology specialist at the Bioplastics and Biomaterials Innovation Unit.

 

These tools developed by INTEC aim to make it easier for manufacturers, laboratories, regulatory authorities, and consumers to more accurately identify the environmental behavior of different types of plastics.

 

Experts believe that the correct use of this terminology will contribute to strengthening transparency in the market, reducing misleading environmental information, and promoting more informed consumer decisions, while also facilitating the development of public policies and regulations based on scientific evidence to drive a more sustainable economy.

 

 

The Center for Environmental Management (CEGA) is a consulting and services center attached to the Basic and Environmental Sciences Area of ​​INTEC; created to contribute to the sustainable development of the country and the Caribbean region through the identification and formulation of comprehensive strategies for training, research, provision of services and advice to the different productive and community sectors, contributing to the improvement of the environmental quality and life of Dominicans.

 

The Bioplastics and Biomaterials Innovation Unit is the result of the “Circular Caribbean” project, which aims to drive the transition to a circular economy by promoting sustainable technological solutions to reduce and complement conventional plastics. The unit is equipped with advanced technology, such as the BPC Blue Premium Light, which measures the biodegradability of materials of interest under aerobic and anaerobic conditions to determine their environmental friendliness and potential as substitutes for conventional plastics.

 

Its services include ecotoxicology, biodegradability and compostability studies, prototype development and sustainability analysis. In addition, the unit offers specialized courses and postgraduate programs on biomaterials and bioplastics to the industry and the general public, fulfilling the objective of supporting companies in the innovation of sustainable products.

 

Through this unit, students from Engineering and Biotechnology and Biochemistry courses have also been incorporated into research projects, providing them with a platform to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.