Biyoplastikler / Biyopolimerler: Ne Kadar Farkındayız?

Today, polymers have found a wide range of uses from kitchen utensils to artificial heart valves, thanks to their lightness, easy shaping, corrosion resistance, and cheapness. A large number of polymers are used in the packaging of food, textiles, and machinery, and they are an important part of solid waste disposed of in landfills. In addition, microplastics, which are small particles under 5 mm, pose a major problem in the pollution of rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans and increase our carbon footprint. Many strategies are being developed in parallel with the Green Deal to reduce both all the negative effects caused by polymers and our carbon footprint. According to the European Green Deal, reducing waste, compensating for carbon footprint emissions, and protecting resources and sustainability are key priorities for the EU now and in the future. Reusability and biodegradable polymer production are important parts of these strategies. The scientific works demonstrated the opportunity for renewable, biodegradable biopolymers to replace their synthetic counterparts in a variety of /application. Biopolymer is a type of polymer and a biodegradable chemical compound that is produced by living beings in the ecosphere. Biopolymers obtained from natural materials (e.g. alginate, zein, gelatin, agar, and chitin/chitosan) are highly abundant but underexploited renewable biomasses. Besides their natural biological and structural functions, the biopolymers can be tailored to new biomaterials with novel functionalities. The roles of biopolymers in obtaining environmentally friendly materials are very important for the future of the world. So, are we aware of plastic pollution and ways to reduce it? Is there enough awareness in academia, industry, and society for biopolymers that are so important for a sustainable environment? In this study, the answers to these questions are researched and discussed.