A water soluble film useful in unit-dose chemical packaging is disclosed. The film may include: a water soluble saccharide and a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer consisting essentially of: (a) from 80 to 99 mole percent of vinyl alcohol and vinyl ester monomer; and (b) from 1 to 20 mole percent of a pyrrolidone comonomer. Such compositions may be used to provide a water-soluble film simultaneously satisfying requirements in regard to water solubility, biodegradability, and physical properties, even when used for packaging of harsh, oxidizing chemicals.