Films
Although derived from fossil fuels, PBAT is still compostable. It's ideal for making film bags. A go-to for biodegradable plastic films. Often compared to LDPE. Commonly in packaging applications, PBAT is combined with PBAT to make a stronger compostable film.
Read the common FAQs on compostable plastic here.
Often compostable in a home environment. Verify credible compostability certificates with your supplier.
Good ductility
Good resistance to heat
Good resistance to impact
Can speed up degradation of PLA when combined to create PLA/PBAT.
Derived from fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource
Not plastic-free
Not degradable in marine environments
Requires adequate messaging for proper disposal. If compostable plastics end up in landfills, they will take much longer to degrade (can be decades) without the right amount of heat, moisture, and oxygen to attract the microbes necessary for degradation.
Some composting facilities will not accept compostable plastics, because they can slow down their composting cycles.
It cannot be recycled, but because it looks and feels like traditional plastic, it often ends up recycled with plastic. This contaminates and slows down the recycling stream.
