The present invention relates to a method comprising the steps of a) contacting under emulsion polymerization conditions vinyl acetate; a cyclic ketene acetal monomer; and a monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer or a salt thereof; to form an aqueous dispersion of copolymer particles comprising structural units of vinyl acetate, the cyclic ketene acetal, and the monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer or a salt thereof; wherein the cyclic ketene acetal monomer is characterized by following structure: where n and the R groups are as defined herein. The method of the present invention provides a water-borne dispersion that is substantially free of volatile organic solvents and that provides a readily degradable polymer that is useful, for example, in the manufacture of biodegradable packaging products.