Environmental risks and regulatory gaps in bioplastics: A critical review of degradation pathways and ecosystem impacts

The pervasive use of non-biodegradable petrochemical plastics has precipitated severe environmental crises, with persistent plastic pollution emerging as a dominant concern in scientific and public discourse. Our systematic review reveals a critical paradox: certain bioplastics, promoted as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, demonstrate comparable or elevated ecosystem toxicity, challenging their presumed environmental superiority. We systematically analyzed 143 peer-reviewed articles spanning from June 2008 to January 2025, sourced from the Web of Science core collection database. Through bibliometric mapping (CiteSpace) and computational data extraction, we visualized knowledge networks to identify evolving research priorities and paradigm shifts in bioplastic safety assessments. This study reveals that while bioplastics offer waste reduction advantages, they can generate persistent micro- and nanoplastics that accumulate in organisms across trophic levels, inducing toxicity through oxidative stress and endocrine disruption. Their degradation exhibits significant ecosystem-dependent variation, highlighting critical shortcomings in current regulatory frameworks. These frameworks fail to address toxic intermediates from incomplete degradation under real-world conditions and overlook long-term ecological impacts. By connecting material properties to environmental behavior and effects, this work provides a scientific foundation for redesigning safer materials and developing evidence-based policies. It underscores the need for integrated approaches that balance innovation with comprehensive environmental safety, paving the way for truly sustainable bioplastic development within a circular economy. • First meta-analysis confirms endocrine-disrupting additives leach from major commercial bioplastics under environmental conditions, challenging presumed safety. • Nanoplastics derived from bioplastic degradation induce oxidative stress via conserved molecular pathways, exceeding conventional microplastic toxicity thresholds. • Field evidence confirms nanoplastic bioaccumulation dominates in marine bivalves, driven by photodegradation of aliphatic-aromatic polyesters. • Bibliometric shifts prioritize circular economy integration, yet overlook critical gaps in biodegradability standards for cold environments. • Current certifications fail to regulate toxic intermediates from bio-sourced plastics lacking full biodegradability.