The role of waste management in reducing bioplastics' leakage into the environment: A review

Bioplastics are becoming more and more widespread as substitutes for petroleum-derived plastics due to their biodegradability. Bioplastics degradation under different environments has been described and reported to depend mainly on bioplastics' compositions and the environmental conditions. Incomplete degradation during waste management processes and leakage of bioplastics into the environment are becoming major concerns that need to be further investigated. In this context, the present paper aimed to review recent literature dealing with biodegradation of bioplastics under industrial (e.g. anaerobic digestion and composting) and natural (e.g. soil and water) environments, and to link it to the potential bioplastics' leakage into the environment. Reviewed data were used to estimate the potential role of waste management processes in decreasing the potential leakage of bioplastics. Depending on bioplastics' type and processing conditions, waste management can effectively reduce bioplastics' potential leakage, decreasing the concentration of these materials that can reach the natural environments.

Automated summary

Bioplastics are increasingly being used as substitutes for petroleum-derived plastics due to their biodegradability, however, concerns arise over incomplete degradation and leakage into the environment during waste management processes. This paper reviews literature on the biodegradation of bioplastics in industrial and natural environments, and discusses the potential role of waste management processes in reducing bioplastics leakage.