Plastics, especially biodegradable surfaces, are colonized by microbial biofilms. These dense communities are not harmless. This is because within them bacteria exchange resistance genes and virulence factors, enhancing their ability to survive and spread. What seemed like a sustainable solution may be unwittingly contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance.
This phenomenon, known as the ‘plastisphere’, occurs when plastic waste is exposed to rivers, oceans or soil and becomes colonized by microorganisms. In urban and polluted environments, these small ecosystems act as reservoirs of resistance genes, with the ability to reach cities, hospitals, and homes. What happens on beaches, rivers and landfills doesn’t stop there, it ends up in our own water and food chains.
The risk lies not only in the persistence of plastics, but also in what happens during decomposition. Biodegradable materials are designed to disappear, but their decomposition can take months or even years. In doing so, the small debris serves as a platform for microbial evolution. Recent discoveries indicate that in addition to plastic degradation genes, antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors also emerge. This coincidence raises an alarming scenario, as it facilitates the survival and spread of more adaptable and potentially more harmful bacteria.
The World Health Organization has already warned that antibiotic resistance is one of the major threats of the 21st century. Although we usually associate it with drug misuse, the role of the environment in its spread is becoming increasingly clear. In this scenario, plastics, especially biodegradable plastics, may play a role that has so far been overlooked. This contradiction is clear and shows that in the name of sustainability, we may be creating global health risks.
This doesn’t mean abandoning innovation or demonizing alternative materials. Rather, it means expanding your horizons. Sustainability cannot be measured solely by a product’s ability to disappear. It can also be measured by the impact a product leaves behind when it disappears. It is essential that new materials be evaluated based on public health standards. A One Health approach that links human, animal, and environmental health should guide these decisions.
Biodegradable plastics can alleviate some of the pollution problems, but at the same time they can contribute to the even more serious problem of antibiotic resistance. This is a warning that quick fixes and green labels are not enough when it comes to health and the environment. What we need is rigor, a vision for the future and a real commitment to sustainability.
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