Table 1.

Important terms and their definitions.

Term	Definition
Bioplastics	Plastics that (1) are biodegradable; or (2) may or may not be degradable but are produced from biological materials or renewable feedstock.
Bio-based plastics	Plastics derived at least partly from renewable sources of carbon such as plant matter. Partially bio-based (or hybrid) plastics contain both renewable and conventional fossil fuel-based carbon.
Bio-compatible	Materials that are not harmful to living organisms.
Biodegradable	Biodegradable materials can be broken down into monomeric or polymeric components, including biomass, water and carbon dioxide or methane, via microorganisms. In an industrial context, biodegradable materials are truly ‘compostable’ and can be almost entirely converted into benign trash within a few months in a composter.
Compostable	Compostable materials can be decomposed through artificially controlled biological processes using standard mixtures of microorganisms in industry.
Digesters/Composters	Controlled environments to enable the biodegradation of waste as per set timelines in industry.
Marine-degradable	Plastics, whether fossil fuel-based or bio-based, that can be degraded into carbon dioxide and water in a marine environment by means of heat, light or microorganisms.
Non-toxic/Toxic	Materials with residual constituents, leached components, or degradation products that are harmful to living organisms.
Plastics	Polymeric materials primarily of synthetic or semi-synthetic origin; most commonly derived from fossil fuels.
Renewable source	A resource that can be used and replenished (through natural means) continually, such as biomass.