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Microplastics from petroleum-based plastics and their effects: A systematic literature review and science mapping of global bioplastics production
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This systematic review maps the global research landscape on microplastics from petroleum-based plastics and the emerging bioplastics industry as an alternative. Researchers found that microplastic contamination is pervasive across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments, driven largely by the degradation of conventional plastics. The study suggests that scaling up bioplastic production could help reduce future microplastic generation, though challenges around biodegradability and end-of-life management remain.
The use of bioplastics is a new strategy for reducing microplastic (MP) waste caused by petroleum-based plastics. This problem has received increased attention worldwide, leading to the development of large-scale bioplastic plants. The large amount of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial environments and the atmosphere has raised global concern. This article delves into the profound environmental impact of the increasing use of petroleum-based plastics, which contribute significantly to plastic waste and, as a consequence, to the increase in MPs. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to identify countries that are at the forefront of efforts to produce bioplastics to reduce MP pollution. In this article, we explain the development, degradation processes, and research trends of bioplastics derived from biological materials such as starch, chitin, chitosan, and polylactic acid (PLA). The findings pinpoint the top 10 countries demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing MP pollution through bioplastics. These nations included the United States, China, Spain, Canada, Italy, India, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. This study underscores the technical and economic obstacles to large-scale bioplastic production. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1892-1911. © 2024 SETAC.
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