Premium
End of Life of Biodegradable Plastics: Composting versus Re/Upcycling
Author(s) -
Gioia Claudio,
Giacobazzi Greta,
Vannini Micaela,
Totaro Grazia,
Sisti Laura,
Colonna Martino,
Marchese Paola,
Celli Annamaria
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.202101226
Subject(s) - bioplastic , waste management , plastic pollution , environmental science , environmental pollution , plastic waste , biochemical engineering , pollution , engineering , ecology , environmental protection , biology
Nowadays the issues related to the end of life of traditional plastics are very urgent due to the important pollution problems that plastics have caused. Biodegradable plastics can help to try to mitigate these problems, but even bioplastics need much attention to carefully evaluate the different options for plastic waste disposal. In this Minireview, three different end‐of‐life scenarios (composting, recycling, and upcycling) were evaluated in terms of literature review. As a result, the ability of bioplastics to be biodegraded by composting has been related to physical variables and materials characteristics. Hence, it is possible to deduce that the process is mature enough to be a good way to minimize bioplastic waste and valorize it for the production of a fertilizer. Recycling and upcycling options, which could open up many interesting new scenarios for the production of high‐value materials, are less studied. Research in this area can be strongly encouraged.