Abstract Commercial poly(vinylalcohol) samples (PVOH) of average molecular mass (Mw) 120,000 g/mol, were subjected to biodegradation with enzymatic extracts of the Phanerochaete chrysosporium fungus, in which the lignine peroxidase activity (LiP) was detected. The results of differential refractive index and ultraviolet (UV) absorption Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography coupled to a Mass Detector (GC‐MS) allow to deduce that in 15 days, under the conditions of this study, the average molar mass of the polymer decreases in 79.3 %. The benzaldehyde was detected as the main degradation product.