Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Corncob-derived biodegradable packaging films: A sustainable solution for raspberry post-harvest preservation

Researchers developed biodegradable packaging films from corncob waste that preserved raspberries significantly longer than conventional polystyrene packaging. The films biodegrade in soil within 29 days, offering a sustainable alternative that could reduce microplastic contamination from food packaging. This matters because plastic food packaging is a known source of microplastic and nanoplastic migration into food.

2024 Food Chemistry 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable trays made from Poraqueiba serícea Tulasne seed starch and Zea Mays cob flour

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops biodegradable food trays from Amazonian seed starch and corn cob flour as an alternative to petrochemical packaging, without addressing microplastic pollution.

2024 Scientia Agropecuaria 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Planstic: Biodegradable Plastic with High-Entropy Fibers Made from Waste Plastic and Plant Leaves

Researchers created "Planstic," a biodegradable material made from fallen plant leaves combined with waste plastic, using 3D printing to control its structure. The material degrades completely within 8 weeks in soil, leaving behind very few microplastic particles, making it a promising eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics.

2021 ACS Applied Polymer Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Novel and Facile Synthesis of Biodegradable Plastic Films from Cornmeal by Using the Microwave Polymerization Technique

Researchers developed a novel method to synthesize biodegradable plastic films from cornmeal using microwave polymerization, combining cornmeal, glycerin, and vinegar to produce a biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics with measured rheological and mechanical properties.

2022 Journal of Chemistry 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Mineral Plastics

Researchers developed a new class of biodegradable mineral plastics that are bio-based and compostable, designed as an environmentally friendly alternative to persistent petroleum-based plastics. While relevant to reducing future plastic pollution, the paper is focused on materials science and does not address microplastic contamination or its health and environmental impacts.

2023 Small Methods 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparing the Biodegradability of Petroleum-based Plastic with a Novel, Sustainable Bio-plastic Alternative

Researchers developed a novel bioplastic from bamboo tannins and chitosan and compared its biodegradability to conventional petroleum-based plastic. The bioplastic degraded significantly faster in soil conditions, offering a promising alternative that could reduce microplastic accumulation compared to conventional plastics that persist for centuries.

2020 Journal of Emerging Investigators
Article Tier 2

Plastics–Fertilizer Homology: Solid-Phase Molecular Assembly Enables Natural Closed-Ring Cycle of Biomass-like Plastics

Researchers developed a new type of biomass-like plastic made from alginate and plant-derived materials that functions as both a usable plastic and a soil fertilizer after disposal. The material showed mechanical strength comparable to conventional plastics while being fully biodegradable, breaking down in soil and actually promoting plant growth. This approach could address microplastic pollution by creating plastics that safely return to the natural cycle rather than persisting in the environment.

2025 ACS Materials Letters 2 citations
Article Tier 2

El desarrollo de plástico biodegradable a partir del cáñamo por estímulo microbiano

Researchers developed a biodegradable plastic using hemp (Cannabis sativa) fiber in conjunction with microbial stimulation, exploiting the structural properties of the hemp stalk fiber as a biopolymer matrix. The study demonstrated the technical feasibility of producing plant-derived bioplastics as an alternative to petroleum-based polymers contributing to microplastic pollution.

2024 Revista Tecnología en Marcha
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable film: a sustainable alternative to polyethylene film for Loess Plateau maize production

Scientists tested biodegradable plastic films instead of regular plastic films to cover soil when growing corn in China. The biodegradable films worked almost as well as regular plastic films for improving crop growth and water efficiency, while being better for the environment since they break down naturally instead of leaving harmful plastic pieces in soil. This matters because it shows farmers can reduce plastic pollution in our food system without hurting crop production.

2026 Frontiers in Plant Science
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

Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable Plastic From Luffa Cylindrica

Researchers produced and characterized a biodegradable bioplastic from Luffa cylindrica agricultural waste combined with cellulose-based additives, demonstrating a potential eco-friendly alternative to conventional non-degradable plastics derived from fossil feedstocks.

2025
Article Tier 2

Biochar—A Filler in “Bioplastics” for Horticultural Applications

Researchers developed biochar-filled bioplastic materials for use in horticultural applications such as seedling trays and plant pots, testing their mechanical properties and biodegradability. The resulting composites showed promising performance as eco-friendly replacements for conventional plastic horticulture products.

2024 Materials 4 citations
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

Analysis of the microplastic emission potential of a starch-based biodegradable plastic material

Researchers developed a method to assess the microplastic emission potential of biodegradable starch-based plastics under environmental conditions, finding that even materials labeled biodegradable can fragment into persistent microplastic particles depending on environmental degradation pathways.

2022 Polymer Degradation and Stability 39 citations
Article Tier 2

On the quest for novel bio-degradable plastics for agricultural field mulching

This review examined the challenge of developing biodegradable plastic mulch materials suitable for agricultural use, noting that plasticulture consumes about 6.7 million tons of plastic annually, most of which cannot be practically recycled. The authors assessed candidate biodegradable polymers based on their degradation rates in soil, mechanical performance, and cost.

2022 Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 12 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

Utilization of Household Plastic Waste in Technologies with Final Biodegradation

Researchers developed a multi-stage processing method for polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene household plastic waste, incorporating the materials into film-forming compositions used to encapsulate granular mineral fertilizers. The study confirmed that polymer shell residues safely biodegraded in soil after fertilizer dissolution, demonstrating a viable pathway for converting plastic waste into agricultural inputs.

2022 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the characteristics of carboxymethyl cellulose film as a possible material for green packaging

Researchers developed biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose films from agricultural waste as a potential sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. Replacing single-use plastics with biodegradable packaging is directly relevant to reducing the source of microplastic pollution, as conventional packaging is a major contributor to plastic fragmentation in the environment.

2023 GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioplastic Production from Corn and Potato Starch and Its Industrial Applications

This study describes how bioplastics can be made from corn and potato starch as a biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics, which currently see only 9% of global production recycled. The resulting starch-based bioplastic showed improved flexibility compared to earlier versions, suggesting it could substitute for conventional plastics in some applications and help reduce long-term plastic pollution.

2024 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Beyond Plastic: Oleogel as gel-state biodegradable thermoplastics

Researchers developed OleoPlast, a new biodegradable thermoplastic made from plant-based oils and ethyl cellulose that can be molded, 3D-printed, and recycled like conventional plastic. Unlike petroleum-based plastics that persist as microplastics for centuries, OleoPlast is derived from renewable waste materials and degrades naturally, making it a promising sustainable alternative.

2024 Chemical Engineering Journal 11 citations