Unlocking the potential of biowaste: Sustainable strategies to produce valuable industrial products

Global solid waste generation is expected to double by 2050 from the present annual level of 2.01 metric ton. Traditional biowaste treatment methods, such as landfilling and incineration, cannot meet the need to deal with gigantic amounts of waste and reduce environmental harm. This review critically evaluates existing sustainable waste management strategies highlighting their role in transitioning to a “reuse and recovery” paradigm. Sustainable waste management refers to conserving resources and protecting human health, society, and the environment. In this context, this review examines the current advancements and potential trends in using widely available biowaste in novel applications to produce key biofuels (such as biogas and biodiesel) and resources such as corrosion inhibitors, asbestos-free brake pads, nutrient-rich functional foods, bio-cement, bio-based fertilizer, and biodegradable plastic. Among these, biowaste-to-energy conversion (e.g., biogas production) and biodegradable plastic synthesis emerge as particularly impactful strategies due to their scalability and potential to address both waste reduction and resource recovery goals. The strategic utilization of biowaste resources into novel products holds significant promise in mitigating sustainability problems, offering renewable alternatives that are biodegradable and free of harmful additives.