to describe the breakdown of material into innocuous components by microorganisms. Now biodegradable is commonly associated with environmentally friendly products that are part of the earth's innate cycles like the carbon cycle and capable of decomposing back into natural elements. See also Notes References Standards by ASTM International D5210- Standard Test Method for Determining the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of Municipal Sewage Sludge D5526- Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Accelerated Landfill Conditions D5338- Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions, Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures D5511- Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions D5864- Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Aquatic Biodegradation of Lubricants or Their Components D5988- Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in Soil D6139- Standard Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Aquatic Biodegradation of Lubricants or Their Components Using the Gledhill Shake Flask D6006- Standard Guide for Assessing Biodegradability of Hydraulic Fluids D6340- Standard Test Methods for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Radiolabeled Plastic Materials in an Aqueous or Compost Environment D6691- Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Marine Environment by a Defined Microbial Consortium or Natural Sea Water Inoculum D6731-Standard Test Method for Determining the Aerobic, Aquatic Biodegradability of Lubricants or Lubricant Components in a Closed Respirometer D6954- Standard Guide for Exposing and Testing Plastics that Degrade in the Environment by a Combination of Oxidation and Biodegradation D7044- Standard Specification for Biodegradable Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluids D7373-Standard Test Method for Predicting Biodegradability of Lubricants Using a Bio-kinetic Model D7475- Standard Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Degradation and Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials under Accelerated Bioreactor Landfill Conditions D7665- Standard Guide for Evaluation of Biodegradable Heat Transfer Fluids External links European Bioplastics Association The Science of Biodegradable Plastics: The Reality Behind Biodegradable Plastic Packaging Material Biodegradable Plastic Definition Anaerobic digestion Biodegradable waste management