Open AccessPlastic waste as a global challenge: are biodegradable plastics the answer to the plastic waste problem?
Author(s) -
Tanja Narancic,
Kevin E. O’Connor
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.352
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1465-2080
pISSN - 1350-0872
DOI - 10.1099/mic.0.000749
Subject(s) - plastic waste , plastic pollution , biodegradation , flexibility (engineering) , waste management , circular economy , environmental pollution , biodegradable plastic , pollution , plastic packaging , environmental science , biochemical engineering , materials science , engineering , chemistry , composite material , environmental protection , ecology , statistics , mathematics , organic chemistry , biology
The strength, flexibility and light weight of traditional oil-derived plastics make them ideal materials for a large number of applications, including packaging, medical devices, building, transportation, etc. However, the majority of produced plastics are single-use plastics, which, coupled with a throw-away culture, leads to the accumulation of plastic waste and pollution, as well as the loss of a valuable resource. In this review we discuss the advances and possibilities in the biotransformation and biodegradation of oil-based plastics. We review bio-based and biodegradable polymers and highlight the importance of end-of-life management of biodegradables. Finally, we discuss the role of a circular economy in reducing plastic waste pollution.