Biodegradable plastics are becoming more and more popular as consumers demand greener alternatives. From poorly labeled materials to low standards and little regulation, knowing if and how to discard these materials can be quite tricky.

Plymouth University did a research study on marine garbage. Pictured above is one of their samples.

While conventional plastics are derived from fossil fuels, bioplastics are made of plants. Bioplastics can be separated into two different categories: bio-based plastics, a hybrid material made from biological matter and fossil fuels, and biodegradable…