A plastic material is considered biodegradable in soil if the microorganisms present are capable of breaking it down and assimilating it. This biodegradation process must take place without any harmful consequences for the environment.
Biodegradation conditions such as pH, temperature and humidity are not controlled, as is the case with compost. A soil-biodegradable plastic has the advantage of being able to degrade in the place where it is applied.
The speed with which a soil-biodegradable plastic degrades is therefore highly dependent on climatic conditions.