Answer

4. The additive has a built-in time release, which has been set to activate approximately 12 months after the film is made. This allows plenty of time for the packaging films to be shipped to stores, given away at tills and used by the customer – possibly more than once – before the degradation process begins.

The amount of time it takes for the degradable film to disappear depends on how it is disposed of: it can take as little as 6 weeks but will typically take a couple of years. Estimates suggest that a standard, non-degradable plastic bag would take hundreds of years to disintegrate – if ever.