With growing concerns over the environment and with the need for developing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, there has been a focused attention towards biodegradable plastics. As such, this paper presents a detailed study and analysis of different types of biodegradable plastics, their properties, and their applications in various industrial sectors. This paper discusses various biodegradable polymers, including PLA, PHA, starch-based bioplastics, and PBS, in terms of their characteristics, production, and specific applications. The paper also discourses the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of such materials and Degener-ability and other varieties of suitability for industrial packaging application, agriculture, medical devices, and consumer goods. The final bit is about future prospects and innovations in biodegradable plastic technologies but more significantly focusing on how these materials can serve to significantly impact the reduction of environmental pollution across multiple industries.

Keywords: Biodegradable plastics, Polylactic Acid (PLA), Environmental Sustainability, Industrial Applications, Polymer Technology.

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1. Bharti SN, Swetha G. Need for bioplastics and role of biopolymer PHB: a short review. J Pet Environ Biotechnol. 2016;7(7).
2. Boey JY, Mohamad L, Khok YS, Tay GS, Baidurah S. A review of the applications and biodegradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates and poly(lactic acid) and its composites. Polymers (Basel). 2021;13(10):1544.
3. Çalgeris İ, Çakmakçı E, Ogan A, Kahraman MV, Kayaman‐Apohan N. Preparation and drug release properties of lignin–starch biodegradable films. Starch‐Stärke. 2012;64(5):399–407.
4. Cheroennet N, Pongpinyopap S, Leejarkpai T, Suwanmanee U. A trade-off between carbon and water impacts in bio-based box production chains in Thailand: A case study of PS, PLAS, PLAS/starch, and PBS. J Clean Prod. 2017;167:987–1001.
5. Choi SY, Cho IJ, Lee Y, Kim Y, Kim K, Lee SY. Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates and nonnatural polyesters. Adv Mater. 2020;32(35):1907138.
6. Crippa M, De Wilde B, Koopmans R, Leyssens J, Muncke J, Ritschkoff A-C, et al. A circular economy for plastics: Insights from research and innovation to inform policy and funding decisions. 2019.
7. Di Bartolo A, Infurna G, Dintcheva NT. A review of bioplastics and their adoption in the circular economy. Polymers (Basel). 2021;13(8):1229.
8. Ferreira ARV, Alves VD, Coelhoso IM. Polysaccharide-based membranes in food packaging applications. Membranes. 2016;6(2):22.
9. Gironi F, Piemonte V. Bioplastics and petroleum-based plastics: strengths and weaknesses. Energy Sources Part A. 2011;33(21):1949–59.
10. Jacquel N, Freyermouth F, Fenouillot F, Rousseau A, Pascault JP, Fuertes P, et al. Synthesis and properties of poly(butylene succinate): Efficiency of different transesterification catalysts. J Polym Sci A Polym Chem. 2011;49(24):5301–12.
11. Jariyasakoolroj P, Leelaphiwat P, Harnkarnsujarit N. Advances in research and development of bioplastic for food packaging. J Sci Food Agric. 2020;100(14):5032–45.
12. Jeremić S, Milovanović J, Mojicević M, Škaro Bogojević S, Nikodinović-Runić J. Understanding bioplastic materials—current state and trends. J Serb Chem Soc. 2020;85(12):1507–38.
13. Keränen O, Lehtimäki T, Komulainen H, Ulkuniemi P. Changing the market for a sustainable innovation. Ind Mark Manag. 2023;108:108–21.
14. Mohammadi Nafchi A, Moradpour M, Saeidi M, Alias AK. Thermoplastic starches: Properties, challenges, and prospects. Starch‐Stärke. 2013;65(1‐2):61–72.
15. Nakajima H, Dijkstra P, Loos K. The recent developments in biobased polymers toward general and engineering applications: Polymers that are upgraded from biodegradable polymers, analogous to petroleum-derived polymers, and newly developed. Polymers (Basel). 2017;9(10):523.
16. Nanda S, Mohanty P, Pant KK, Naik S, Kozinski JA, Dalai AK. Characterization of North American lignocellulosic biomass and biochar’s in terms of their candidacy for alternate renewable fuels. Bioenerg Res. 2013;6:663–77.
17. Nanda S, Patra BR, Patel R, Bakos J, Dalai AK. Innovations in applications and prospects of bioplastics and biopolymers: A review. Environ Chem Lett. 2022;20(1):379–95.
18. Niranjana Prabhu T, Prashantha K. A review on present status and future challenges of starch-based polymer films and their composites in food packaging applications. Polym Compos. 2018;39(7):2499–521.
19. Onen Cinar S, Chong ZK, Kucuker MA, Wieczorek N, Cengiz U, Kuchta K. Bioplastic production from microalgae: a review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):3842.

With growing concerns over the environment and with the need for developing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, there has been a focused attention towards biodegradable plastics. As such, this paper presents a detailed study and analysis of different types of biodegradable plastics, their properties, and their applications in various industrial sectors. This paper discusses various biodegradable polymers, including PLA, PHA, starch-based bioplastics, and PBS, in terms of their characteristics, production, and specific applications. The paper also discourses the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of such materials and Degener-ability and other varieties of suitability for industrial packaging application, agriculture, medical devices, and consumer goods. The final bit is about future prospects and innovations in biodegradable plastic technologies but more significantly focusing on how these materials can serve to significantly impact the reduction of environmental pollution across multiple industries.

Keywords: Biodegradable plastics, Polylactic Acid (PLA), Environmental Sustainability, Industrial Applications, Polymer Technology.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Bharti SN, Swetha G. Need for bioplastics and role of biopolymer PHB: a short review. J Pet Environ Biotechnol. 2016;7(7).
2. Boey JY, Mohamad L, Khok YS, Tay GS, Baidurah S. A review of the applications and biodegradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates and poly(lactic acid) and its composites. Polymers (Basel). 2021;13(10):1544.
3. Çalgeris İ, Çakmakçı E, Ogan A, Kahraman MV, Kayaman‐Apohan N. Preparation and drug release properties of lignin–starch biodegradable films. Starch‐Stärke. 2012;64(5):399–407.
4. Cheroennet N, Pongpinyopap S, Leejarkpai T, Suwanmanee U. A trade-off between carbon and water impacts in bio-based box production chains in Thailand: A case study of PS, PLAS, PLAS/starch, and PBS. J Clean Prod. 2017;167:987–1001.
5. Choi SY, Cho IJ, Lee Y, Kim Y, Kim K, Lee SY. Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates and nonnatural polyesters. Adv Mater. 2020;32(35):1907138.
6. Crippa M, De Wilde B, Koopmans R, Leyssens J, Muncke J, Ritschkoff A-C, et al. A circular economy for plastics: Insights from research and innovation to inform policy and funding decisions. 2019.
7. Di Bartolo A, Infurna G, Dintcheva NT. A review of bioplastics and their adoption in the circular economy. Polymers (Basel). 2021;13(8):1229.
8. Ferreira ARV, Alves VD, Coelhoso IM. Polysaccharide-based membranes in food packaging applications. Membranes. 2016;6(2):22.
9. Gironi F, Piemonte V. Bioplastics and petroleum-based plastics: strengths and weaknesses. Energy Sources Part A. 2011;33(21):1949–59.
10. Jacquel N, Freyermouth F, Fenouillot F, Rousseau A, Pascault JP, Fuertes P, et al. Synthesis and properties of poly(butylene succinate): Efficiency of different transesterification catalysts. J Polym Sci A Polym Chem. 2011;49(24):5301–12.
11. Jariyasakoolroj P, Leelaphiwat P, Harnkarnsujarit N. Advances in research and development of bioplastic for food packaging. J Sci Food Agric. 2020;100(14):5032–45.
12. Jeremić S, Milovanović J, Mojicević M, Škaro Bogojević S, Nikodinović-Runić J. Understanding bioplastic materials—current state and trends. J Serb Chem Soc. 2020;85(12):1507–38.
13. Keränen O, Lehtimäki T, Komulainen H, Ulkuniemi P. Changing the market for a sustainable innovation. Ind Mark Manag. 2023;108:108–21.
14. Mohammadi Nafchi A, Moradpour M, Saeidi M, Alias AK. Thermoplastic starches: Properties, challenges, and prospects. Starch‐Stärke. 2013;65(1‐2):61–72.
15. Nakajima H, Dijkstra P, Loos K. The recent developments in biobased polymers toward general and engineering applications: Polymers that are upgraded from biodegradable polymers, analogous to petroleum-derived polymers, and newly developed. Polymers (Basel). 2017;9(10):523.
16. Nanda S, Mohanty P, Pant KK, Naik S, Kozinski JA, Dalai AK. Characterization of North American lignocellulosic biomass and biochar’s in terms of their candidacy for alternate renewable fuels. Bioenerg Res. 2013;6:663–77.
17. Nanda S, Patra BR, Patel R, Bakos J, Dalai AK. Innovations in applications and prospects of bioplastics and biopolymers: A review. Environ Chem Lett. 2022;20(1):379–95.
18. Niranjana Prabhu T, Prashantha K. A review on present status and future challenges of starch-based polymer films and their composites in food packaging applications. Polym Compos. 2018;39(7):2499–521.
19. Onen Cinar S, Chong ZK, Kucuker MA, Wieczorek N, Cengiz U, Kuchta K. Bioplastic production from microalgae: a review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):3842.