C1 LEVEL

Biodegradable Plastics

C1 Worksheet

Vocabulary

  1. Biodegradable
    Capable of being broken down naturally by microorganisms

  2. Indistinguishable
    Not able to be told apart from something else

  3. Integrate
    To combine with something so that they become a whole

  4. Transform
    To change in form, appearance, or structure

  5. Reinvent
    To change something so much that it appears to be entirely new

  6. Sustainable
    Using methods that do not deplete resources or harm the environment

  7. Decompose
    To break down into basic elements or components

  8. Ambitions
    Strong desires to achieve something

  9. Inspire
    To fill someone with the urge or ability to do something

  10. Innovative
    Introducing new ideas or methods

Grammar Points

  1. Passive Voice (including continuous forms)
    Used to emphasize the action or result rather than the doer (e.g., “This bacteria-filled liquid is being used to make biodegradable plastic.”).

  2. Present Perfect Simple
    Used to describe past actions with present relevance or recent achievements (e.g., “They have developed new ways of using microbes to create sustainable packaging.”).

  3. Modal Verbs for Possibility and Advice
    Used to express ability, probability, permission, or recommendations (e.g., “You can integrate that into existing equipment.” / “It might seem impossible…”).

  4. Reduced Relative Clauses
    Used to simplify relative clauses, especially in spoken and formal English (e.g., “These containers can decompose in a few months if they’re put into compost.”).

  5. Non-defining Relative Clauses
    Used to add extra, non-essential information about a noun, often separated by commas or dashes (e.g., “The company’s ambitions go beyond packaging — and so does its message.”).

  6. Subjunctive/Emphatic Future Tone
    Used to express strong intention, hope, or encouragement about the future, often with emphasis (e.g., “You will turn that vision into reality.”)

Activities

Activity 1
Passive Voice Transformation

Instructions
Rewrite the following active sentences from the Shellworks process into the passive voice. Then write one original passive sentence about environmental innovation.

Example:
“They use microbes to break down the material.”
 “Microbes are used to break down the material.”

Sentences to transform:

  1. They created a new type of packaging.

  2. Microorganisms break it down.

  3. The company ships thousands of containers.

  4. They shaped the material into bottles.

Activity 2
Opinion Writing

Instructions
Write a short opinion paragraph (120–150 words) in response to this question:
“Do you think biodegradable plastics will replace traditional plastics in the next 20 years?”


Use at least two modal verbs, one passive construction, and at least one advanced connector (e.g., however, moreover, as a result).

Activity 3
Paraphrase Challenge

Instructions
Work in pairs. One student reads a sentence from the video. The other student says it in a different way, using their own words.

Example:
Original: “Indistinguishable from a plastic.”  
Paraphrase: “It looks just like plastic.”

Questions

  1. What material is Shellworks using to create biodegradable plastic?

  2. What role does composting play in how Shellworks' products are disposed of or reused?

  3. Have you seen any similar examples of sustainable innovation in your country? Describe one.