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End of Life of Biodegradable Plastics: Composting versus Re/Upcycling
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This review compared composting versus chemical re/upcycling as end-of-life strategies for biodegradable plastics, concluding that the best approach depends on the specific material and that careful system-level evaluation is needed to avoid simply trading one pollution problem for another.
Abstract Nowadays the issues related to the end of life of traditional plastics are very urgent due to the important pollution problems that plastics have caused. Biodegradable plastics can help to try to mitigate these problems, but even bioplastics need much attention to carefully evaluate the different options for plastic waste disposal. In this Minireview, three different end‐of‐life scenarios (composting, recycling, and upcycling) were evaluated in terms of literature review. As a result, the ability of bioplastics to be biodegraded by composting has been related to physical variables and materials characteristics. Hence, it is possible to deduce that the process is mature enough to be a good way to minimize bioplastic waste and valorize it for the production of a fertilizer. Recycling and upcycling options, which could open up many interesting new scenarios for the production of high‐value materials, are less studied. Research in this area can be strongly encouraged.
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Optimizing the Value Chain of Recycling Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging for Sustainable Development and the Circular Economy
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This review article examines the challenges of managing biodegradable and compostable packaging at end-of-life, noting that while these materials are gaining popularity as plastic alternatives, improper disposal often prevents their environmental benefits from being realized.
Discussion about suitable applications for biodegradable plastics regarding their sources, uses and end of life
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Researchers critically evaluated the scientific basis for biodegradable plastics as a solution to plastic pollution, concluding that no plastic biodegrades universally across all ecosystems, that treating the environment as a waste treatment system is unacceptable, and that compostable plastics require dedicated collection infrastructure to deliver on their environmental promise.
Use phase and end-of-life modeling of biobased biodegradable plastics in life cycle assessment: a review
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This review examined how biobased and biodegradable plastics are modeled in life cycle assessments, particularly for their use phase and end-of-life scenarios, identifying methodological challenges and inconsistencies that make it difficult to accurately compare the environmental performance of bioplastics to conventional plastics.
Biodegradation of Different Types of Bioplastics through Composting—A Recent Trend in Green Recycling
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This review examines the biodegradation of various bioplastics through composting and other environments. Researchers found that while bioplastics offer a promising sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, their degradation rates are highly dependent on environmental conditions, and concerns remain about their leakage into the environment and long degradation timeframes during waste management.
Chemical-Physical Characterization of Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics in View of Identifying Suitable Recycling/Recovery Strategies and Numerical Modeling of PLA Pyrolysis
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Researchers characterized several bio-based and biodegradable polymer alternatives to conventional plastics using chemical-physical methods, assessing their suitability for industrial composting and identifying challenges in managing these bioplastics in the existing waste stream.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.