Good intentions.

The article highlights the cost to companies that invested in biodegradable plastics. One should consider the saga of Novon International Inc., a once-promising biodegradable plastic developed by pharmaceutical giant Warner-Lambert Inc. Derived from corn and potatoes, Novon was promoted as a replacement for everything from golf tees to diapers. "The bio-plastic starch technology could eventually play a role in helping to better manage the highly visible litter stream, much of which consists of plastics," lectured the company's then-chief executive in a 1990 announcement. Three years later Warner-Lambert abruptly killed the business and took a $70 million before-tax charge on its reported $100 million investment. Despite many failures, biodegradable business continues to attract dreamers and schemers, some of whom manage to convince public investors to go along with them.