Roadmap to Biodegradable Plastics-Current State and Research Needs

Plastics, with their ubiquitous presence in our daily lives and environment, pose an uncomfortable conundrum. Producers and consumers are aware of the value of these organic ingredients in material flow, yet their persistence and disruption to the ecological milieu desperately stipulate a shift in the status quo. Biodegradable plastics-as the name suggests-has its appeal in ensuring the safe return of carbon to ecosystems by complete assimilation of the degraded product as a food source for soil or aquatic microorganisms. However, despite more than a decade of commercial presence, these plastics are still far from replacing the Development Testing demand for fossil-fuel-based commodity plastics. We discuss this apparent disconnect herein through a material value chain perspective. We review the current state of commercial biodegradable plastics and contrast it against the desired state of the zero-waste-focused circular economy. To close the gap, we suggest critical research needs concerning the structure and properties of biodegradable plastics, testing standards, application development, and waste management. The ultimate success in displacing conventional plastics with biodegradable alternatives will be predicated on collaboration between all stakeholders across the product value chain.

Automated summary

Plastics, though ubiquitous in daily life and environment, require consideration for their impact on the ecological milieu. While biodegradable plastics offer appeal in returning carbon to ecosystems, they have yet to replace conventional plastics commercially, necessitating collaboration for success.