Biodegradable Polymer-Based Natural Fiber Composites

Environmental pollution caused by conventional polymers due to their non-degradability, CO2 production during their processing is a major concern for the sustainable development of society. Dangerous consequences to the biological system of living organisms occur because of contamination of the food chain by the non-degraded microplastics. Therefore, the scientific community is very keen to develop novel polymer materials capable of biodegradation. Primarily, microorganisms through enzymatic action can decompose the complex polymer structure to simpler chemicals like methane, carbon dioxide, biomass, and inorganic compounds in a specific time. Those biodegradable polymers can be developed either from natural or petroleum-based resources. Thermoplastic starch, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate, and poly(vinyl alcohol) are examples of biodegradable polymers. The synthesis and application of biodegradable polymer biocomposite with natural fiber reinforcement capture attention from researchers and industries. The biodegradable biocomposites can replace the synthetic polymer/fiber-based composites in packaging, agricultural, household, and medical applications. This article discusses the classification of biodegradable polymers, recent works on biodegradable biocomposites, and the biodegradation behavior of the biocomposites concisely. The various applications and prospects are also presented.