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Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Bioplastics
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Researchers conducted life cycle assessments of multiple bioplastic types — including PLA, PHA, and starch-based polymers — finding that while bioplastics generally reduce fossil resource depletion compared to conventional plastics, their environmental benefits vary considerably depending on feedstock, production process, and end-of-life scenario.
The use of plastics is intrinsically linked to daily activities; however, their indiscriminate use has negative consequences on the environment, such as depletion of fossil resources and accumulation of waste. In this context, it is necessary to create more sustainable alternatives to replace them. Therefore, new biobased materials have been developed, which can be bio-based, biodegradable, or both. However, it is necessary to evaluate whether these replacements decrease the environmental impacts compared to plastics of fossil origin. Life cycle analysis is a useful tool for assessing this behavior. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the systematic study of 53 scientific articles in which the environmental impact of bioplastics against petrochemical plastics is compared, generally addressing the product's entire life cycle. These studies differ in scope, functional units, and environmental impacts; however, the vast majority converge that new bio-based systems have environmental advantages. In addition to its impact on the environment, it is necessary to evaluate the technical, social, and economic aspects that make it possible to establish the global sustainability of bioplastics.
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This review applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of plastic products across their entire lifecycle from raw material extraction through disposal, demonstrating how LCA can identify opportunities for reducing plastic's environmental burden. The chapter highlights that recycling achieves less than 20% of used plastics and emphasizes LCA as a tool for comparing conventional plastics against sustainable bioplastics to guide more responsible material choices.
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Researchers conducted a state-of-the-art life cycle assessment review of bioplastic production, finding that while bioplastics can reduce fossil fuel dependency, their environmental benefits vary substantially by feedstock, processing route, and end-of-life scenario within a circular economy framework.
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This systematic review compares bio-based plastics with traditional petroleum-based plastics across environmental impact, cost, and health effects. The findings suggest that while bio-based alternatives may reduce some environmental harms, they are not without trade-offs, and understanding these differences is important for making healthier choices about the products we use.
Environmental Impact Assessment of Bioplastic
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This review assesses the environmental impacts of bioplastics as alternatives to conventional fossil-fuel-based plastics, evaluating their full lifecycle from production through degradation. It finds that while bioplastics offer reduced greenhouse gas emissions and compostability in some cases, their environmental performance varies greatly by polymer type and end-of-life scenario.
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