A comprehensive review of renewable bioplastics with a focus on Algae-derived alternatives for sustainable development

With almost 8 million tons of plastic entering the oceans each year, the problem of plastic pollution is worsening, making sustainable substitutes for conventional petroleum-based polymers necessary. By assessing algae-derived renewable bioplastics as a novel option, this review fills a major research gap in the areas of mechanical performance and commercial scalability, which have received little attention in the literature to date. The goal is to evaluate the potential of macroalgae and microalgae that can grow 20% each day and survive inhospitable environments as renewable biomass sources for biodegradable bioplastics. Quantitatively, algae-based bioplastics show a 40–60% reduction in CO₂ emissions when compared to traditional plastics. Additionally, blends of Spirulina and polyethylene have up to 25% higher tensile strength (3.5–8 MPa), which increases their use in the biomedical, packaging, and agricultural industries. Studies have demonstrated their contribution to the bioeconomy and circular economy, which is reinforced by new developments in genetic engineering and bio flocculation in 2024, which lower production costs by 20–30%. Although there are still issues with durability and polymer extraction efficiency (which is currently 60% energy-intensive), the impact is substantial. By 2030, these bioplastics could reduce 20–30% of marine microplastic pollution, providing a scalable, environmentally friendly substitute with significant economic potential for developing nations.