Russia developed a biodegradable polyethylene in sunlight

Russia's Central Chemical Research Institute has successfully developed biodegradable polyethylene in sunlight. It is a special additive added when polyethylene is manufactured. When this material is added to polyethylene, its additives gradually decompose in the sunlight and at the same time produce a catalyst that can accelerate the oxidation of polyethylene by a factor of ten thousand, thus allowing the plastic to decompose in time. This type of polyethylene retains its original properties for a period of 3 to 3.5 months, and then quickly decomposes into substances that are easily engulfed by soil organisms.