When disposed, PHBV degrades into carbon dioxide and water. PHBV undergo bacterial degradation. PHBV, just like fats to human, is an energy source to microorganisms. Enzymes produced by them degrade it and are consumed.
PHBV has a low thermal stability and the cleavage occurs at the ester bond by β elimination reaction.
Hydrolytic degradation occurs only slowly making it usable in medical applications.