Abstract: Articles, including films, coatings and laminates, are produced from certain sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions, which have an optimized combination of fast biodegradation rates and enhanced thermal properties when compared to the sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic polyetherester compositions of the art. The articles may be further processed to form useful shaped articles, such as sheets, thermoformed containers, and coatings that can be applied to, for example, films or other substrates. The disclosed polyetheresters are based on copolyesters produced from a mixture containing aromatic dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, poly(alkylene ether) glycols, glycols, and components containing alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfo groups.