PURPOSE: To enable cellulose acetate to be easily degraded by ultraviolet rays, by blending at least one compd. selected from thiodipropionic acid, acetylacetonato iron, triphenylamine and linoleic acid with cellulose acetate or depositing said compd. on its surface.

CONSTITUTION: At least one compd. selected from thiodipropionic acid, acetylacetonato iron (II), triphenylamine and linoleic acid as a photolysis promotor, is blended with cellulose acetate or deposited on its surface to produce the desired photolysis-promoting cellulose acetate compsn. This compsn. is used as a starting material to produce articles such as various disposable cellulose acetate containers or cellulose acetate films. When these articles become useless and are discarded outdoors, they are rapidly degraded by ultraviolet rays and its strength is lowered. Thus, environmental pollution is prevented from being caused by the articles.