Bioplastics: Harmonious coexistence of innovation and sustainability—a comprehensive review

Abstract

The ubiquity of plastics in modern society has brought about significant environmental challenges, driving a growing interest in sustainable alternatives. This paper offers an extensive exploration of the diverse landscape of bioplastics, addressing their production, characteristics, and environmental implications. Since bioplastics are produced from renewable biomass sources including, proteins, starch, and algae, they provide a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. The pressing need to reduce plastic waste and our dependence on finite fossil fuels is what drives the need for bioplastics, which aligns with global sustainability objectives. The paper comprehensively overviews various bioplastics. It emphasizes their renewable feedstock sources and potential to reduce dependence on finite fossil fuels. The environmental impact of bioplastics was analyzed, highlighting their carbon footprint, biodegradability, and resource efficiency. Techniques for bioplastic degradation, such as biological, enzymatic, chemical, and thermal methods, were explored, highlighting the diverse approaches to managing bioplastics' end of life. These include land use competition with food crops, energy-intensive production processes, and variable degradation rates depending on environmental conditions. Technological limitations, such as scalability, performance under industrial processing conditions, and higher production costs compared to conventional plastics, are also critically discussed. However, while bioplastics offer several environmental advantages, such as biodegradability and the use of renewable feedstocks, it also comes with trade-offs. The study emphasizes the potential of bioplastics to reduce plastic pollution and support a sustainable circular economy by looking at their life cycle from manufacture to breakdown. Overall, this paper indicates bioplastics as a crucial component in the fight against plastic pollution, promoting a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.