Dive Brief:

• A study conducted by a team from Michigan State University concluded that additives that are said to be effective in breaking down polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate do not work in environments such as landfills or composting.
• The team tested five additives across three categories: biodegradation with oxygen to simulate composting, without oxygen to recreate a landfill to anaerobic digester and burying the plastic materials.
• The study took place over a three-year timeframe.

Dive Insight:

Rafael Aurus, a packaging professor at the university and co-author of the study, said that there was not a difference in the outcome of the plastics mixed with additives and the plastics that were not exposed to the additives. 

The study was bankrolled by packaging companies. The firms were seeking scientific evidence to vet certain products and methods in breaking down the plastics.