Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Eco-Friendly Hemp-Fiber-Reinforced Recycled HDPE Composites

Researchers developed hemp-fiber-reinforced recycled HDPE composites from postconsumer plastic waste, demonstrating that these sustainable biocomposites can serve as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional wood-plastic composite products.

2023 Journal of Composites Science 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Performance Spectrum of Home-Compostable Biopolymer Fibers Compared to a Petrochemical Alternative

Researchers compared home-compostable biopolymer fibers to conventional petrochemical alternatives, evaluating their mechanical performance and degradability to assess whether biobased materials can serve as viable substitutes that reduce microplastic pollution.

2023 Polymers 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Economia Circular E Desenvolvimento Sustentável: Compostabilidade, Biodegradação E Inovação Em Biopolímeros E Compósitos Renováveis Para Aplicações Estruturais, Agrícolas E Embalagens

This review paper summarizes research on new plant-based plastics that can break down naturally in the environment, unlike regular plastics made from oil. These eco-friendly materials could replace traditional plastic in food packaging and farming, potentially reducing the tiny plastic particles that end up in our food and water. However, the technology still needs improvements and better waste management systems before these biodegradable plastics can widely replace regular plastics.

2026 Aracê.
Article Tier 2

Nanocelulosas producidas por un proceso de oxidación no convencional: interacciones y aplicaciones

This study developed cellulose micro/nanofibers from plant cell walls using unconventional oxidation and mechanical processes, producing biodegradable biomaterials proposed as renewable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics that generate microplastic pollution.

2024 Tesis Doctorals en Xarxa (Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya)
Article Tier 2

Bioplastics against Microplastics: Screening of Environmental Bacteria for Bioplastics Production

Researchers screened environmental bacteria for their ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics, which are biodegradable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Developing efficient bioplastic-producing strains is one strategy to reduce the long-term accumulation of persistent microplastics in the environment.

2023 Environmental sciences
Article Tier 2

Nano/Micro Hybrid Bamboo Fibrous Preforms for Robust Biodegradable Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Researchers created strong, eco-friendly composite materials by combining nano- and micro-scale fibers from bamboo, producing a biodegradable plastic alternative with improved mechanical properties. This work contributes to developing sustainable materials that could replace conventional petroleum-based plastics and reduce microplastic generation.

2021 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Prospección de uso del género Equisetum como producto biodegradable alternativo al uso de tubos plásticos de beber por succión (pitillos)

This Colombian study explored using hollow stems of Equisetum (horsetail) plants as biodegradable, naturally tubular alternatives to plastic drinking straws. Using plant-based replacements for single-use plastic products can reduce the plastic entering the environment and ultimately forming microplastics.

2018
Article Tier 2

Future Prospects of Biodegradable Natural Fiber Composites: Innovations and Enhanced Performance in Roofing and Packaging Applications

Despite its title referencing sustainable composites and roofing/packaging, this paper studies the development of biodegradable natural fiber composites (from hemp, jute, and flax) as alternatives to synthetic fiber materials — not microplastic pollution research. It examines materials science for sustainable construction and packaging applications and is not directly relevant to microplastic contamination or human health.

2025 International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of mulching on soil properties, microbial diversity and activities, and crop yield

Researchers examined mulching materials including plastic films and biodegradable hemp fiber alternatives, finding that plastic mulch leaves persistent microplastic fragments in soil with poorly understood consequences, while plant fiber bio-canvas offers a promising biodegradable substitute for weed control.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradar para No Contaminar: El Futuro de los Plásticos

This Spanish-language paper reviews the current state of biodegradable plastics as alternatives to conventional polymers, examining the potential for bio-based materials to reduce microplastic formation and marine contamination while meeting functional requirements for packaging and consumer products.

2025 Tendencias en energías renovables y sustentabilidad .
Article Tier 2

Degradation behavior and environmental impacts of a hemp-containing “eco-friendly” compostable plastic in natural environments

Researchers conducted a field experiment exposing hemp fiber-containing 'compostable plastic' to sandy clay soil and river water for up to 33 weeks to assess its degradation behavior in natural environments. Analyses using electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, XRD, and FTIR showed that the material did not fully degrade under natural conditions within the study period, raising questions about its environmental claims.

2025 Waste Management
Article Tier 2

Exploring Microorganisms from Plastic-Polluted Sites: Unveiling Plastic Degradation and PHA Production Potential

Researchers screened microorganisms from plastic-polluted sites for their ability to break down conventional plastics and produce a biodegradable alternative called PHA. They identified several bacterial strains capable of degrading synthetic polymers and simultaneously producing this bio-based plastic from waste materials. The study highlights the potential for using naturally adapted microbes from contaminated environments as tools for both plastic cleanup and sustainable material production.

2023 Microorganisms 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Conversion of low-quality cotton to bioplastics

Researchers converted low-quality cotton fibers unsuitable for textile use into bioplastics as an eco-friendly alternative to petrochemical plastics, demonstrating a method to reduce microplastic contamination by substituting conventional plastics with bio-based materials.

2021 Cellulose 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer from crop residue using bacteria as an alternative to plastics: a review

This review examines how PHA, a biodegradable plastic made from crop waste using bacteria, could serve as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. While PHA breaks down naturally unlike traditional plastics that fragment into microplastics, challenges remain in making it heat-stable and cost-competitive enough for widespread industrial use.

2025 RSC Advances 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Prospective Biodegradable Plastics from Biomass Conversion Processes

This review surveys the potential of plant biomass as a source of biodegradable plastic alternatives, covering different types of bioplastics and their production processes. Replacing petroleum-based plastics with biodegradable bio-based materials would significantly reduce persistent microplastic pollution.

2018 InTech eBooks 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of microbial biomass content on biodegradation and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites

This paper is not about microplastics — it studies how adding microbial biomass (algae and cyanobacteria) to a biodegradable polyester (PHB) accelerates its degradation rate in soil.

2023 Biodegradation 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Bacterial cellulose biopolymers: The sustainable solution to water-polluting microplastics

Researchers developed bacterial cellulose (BC) biopolymer filters as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymer filters used in wastewater treatment plant microplastic removal. BC filters showed high MP capture efficiency and are biodegradable, addressing both microplastic pollution and the environmental costs of conventional synthetic filter maintenance.

2022 Water Research 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioeconomía de biopolímeros basados en residuos orgánicos domésticos para la disminución del impacto ambiental generado por residuos plásticos de un solo uso en el Edificio Pasaje Amador de la ciudad de Quito.

This Ecuadorian thesis applied bioeconomy principles to develop biopolymers from domestic organic waste as a substitute for single-use plastics in an urban building. Using locally produced bio-based materials to replace single-use plastics directly addresses the generation of the plastic waste that eventually becomes microplastics.

2023 ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías
Article Tier 2

Incarnation of bioplastics: recuperation of plastic pollution

This review explored bioplastics as eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, examining their production from agricultural and kitchen waste products and their potential for microbial decomposition to help reduce plastic pollution.

2021 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 28 citations
Article Tier 2

High density polyethylene microplastics biodegradation by bacteria isolated from a landfill in Cali, Colombia

Researchers isolated bacteria from a landfill in Cali, Colombia, and evaluated their ability to biodegrade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) microplastics, addressing gaps in knowledge about microbial degradation of persistent plastic particles. The study identified bacterial strains capable of accelerating HDPE breakdown, demonstrating the potential of landfill-derived microorganisms for bioremediation.

2024 Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental 1 citations