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Editorial: Biodegradable Polymers and Composites
Summary
This editorial introduces a research topic on biodegradable polymers and composites as alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived plastics, which fragment into microplastics and accumulate in marine and terrestrial environments. The authors argue that transitioning to biodegradable materials is now an unavoidable direction for both researchers and industry.
The increasing reliance on disposable and durable plastic products makes synthetic polymers ubiquitous. Most plastic breaks down into microplastics and ends up in the ocean, threatening aquatic life, birds, and eventually humans. Microplastics come from various resources, which can usually be traced back to either larger plastic debris or macro-to-micro pieces. The transition from traditional petroleum-derived plastics to biodegradable polymers is now a direction that researchers and industries cannot circumvent.