Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Preparation and Characterization of Ecuadorian Bamboo Fiber-Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Biocomposites

Researchers prepared and characterized biocomposites made from Ecuadorian bamboo fiber reinforced in low-density polyethylene, finding that the natural fiber reinforcement improved several material properties compared to pure LDPE. The study highlights bamboo fiber composites as a more sustainable alternative that reduces reliance on purely synthetic plastics.

2023 Evergreen 7 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

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

Sustainable Plastics with High Performance and Convenient Processibility

Researchers developed a new approach to creating sustainable plastics by combining bio-derived polymers with petroleum-based monomers through in situ polymerization. The resulting materials showed strong mechanical properties, good processability, and improved environmental degradability compared to conventional plastics. The study offers a potential pathway toward reducing microplastic pollution by designing plastics that break down more readily after disposal.

2024 Advanced Science 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Seawater-degradable, tough, and fully bio-derived nonwoven polyester fibres reinforced with mechanically defibrated cellulose nanofibres

Researchers developed a fully bio-derived bioplastic fiber combining PHBH polymer with cellulose nanofibers that degrades in seawater while maintaining good mechanical properties, offering a promising alternative to conventional synthetic fibers that shed persistent microplastics.

2022 Environmental Science Nano 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microcrystalline cellulose grafted hyperbranched polyester with roll comb structure for synergistic toughening and strengthening of PHBV/ bio-based polyester elastomer composites

Researchers developed fully bio-based composite materials by combining a biodegradable polyester with cellulose-grafted polymer structures, significantly improving the toughness of otherwise brittle bioplastics. Stronger bioplastics could replace conventional plastics in more applications, reducing long-term microplastic generation from plastic products.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Scalable Bamboo Fiber/Microfibrillated Cellulose Foam via Solvent‐Exchange‐Assisted Ambient Drying for Highly Efficient Microplastics Capture

Researchers developed a scalable bamboo fiber and microfibrillated cellulose foam for capturing microplastics from water, achieving 99.4% filtration efficiency with high flow rates. The foam was fabricated using an energy-efficient ambient drying process without toxic crosslinkers, and demonstrated excellent reusability and effectiveness across various plastic types and real water samples. The study presents a sustainable, high-performance approach to microplastic remediation in aquatic environments.

2025 Advanced Functional Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-Adhesives Combined with Lotus Leaf Fiber to Prepare Bio-Composites for Substituting the Plastic Packaging Materials

Researchers prepared biodegradable composite packaging materials by combining natural bio-adhesives with lotus leaf fiber, testing mechanical and thermal properties. Natural fiber composites offer an alternative to petroleum-based plastic packaging that would not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE MATERIALS 7 citations
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

Nanocellulose Hybrid Lignin Complex Reinforces Cellulose to Form a Strong, Water-Stable Lignin–Cellulose Composite Usable as a Plastic Replacement

This study developed a strong, water-stable composite material made from cellulose and lignin extracted from agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse), as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. The lignin-cellulose composite showed dramatically improved wet strength compared to regular cellulose sheets, demonstrating potential as a biodegradable plastic replacement that would not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 Nanomaterials 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Recycling of Waste Bamboo Biomass and Papermaking Waste Liquid to Synthesize Sodium Lignosulfonate/Chitosan Glue-Free Biocomposite

Not a microplastics paper — this study creates a biodegradable composite material from papermaking waste liquid (sodium lignosulfonate) and waste bamboo as a glue-free alternative to conventional wood-based building materials.

2023 Molecules 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Materials with Enhanced Mechanical Properties Based on Industrial Polyhydroxyalkanoates Reinforced with Organomodified Sepiolite and Montmorillonite

Researchers developed a biodegradable composite material by adding natural clay minerals to industrial biopolymer (PHA), improving its strength and durability compared to plain PHA. Biodegradable plastics like this could help reduce the generation of persistent microplastics from conventional petroleum-based packaging.

2019 Polymers 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Renewable cellulosic nanocomposites for food packaging to avoid fossil fuel plastic pollution: a review

Researchers reviewed how cellulose nanoparticles extracted from plant biomass can replace petroleum-based plastics in food packaging, finding that adding just 1–5% cellulose nanoparticles significantly improves strength, reduces oxygen and water vapor permeability, and keeps packaging biodegradable. The review positions cellulose nanocomposites as a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to fossil-fuel plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Chemistry Letters 222 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Polymer-Based Natural Fiber Composites

This review examined biodegradable polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers as alternatives to conventional plastics. Combining biodegradable matrices with plant fibers improved mechanical performance while maintaining degradability and reducing the risk of persistent microplastic contamination. These materials represent a promising direction for sustainable packaging and construction applications.

2022 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanical, structural, and biodegradability properties of bioplastics from tamarind seed starch

Researchers synthesised bioplastics from tamarind seed starch and characterised their mechanical, structural, and biodegradability properties as a sustainable alternative to synthetic plastics. The study demonstrated that tamarind starch-based bioplastics exhibit adequate mechanical performance and substantially faster biodegradation compared to conventional plastics, reducing the risk of microplastic accumulation in the environment.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Dual‐Network Cellulosic Composite Bioplastic Metafilm for Plastic Substitute

Researchers created a new type of cellulose-based bioplastic film using a dual-network design strategy that overcomes common weaknesses of plant-based materials like brittleness and water sensitivity. The resulting material showed exceptional mechanical toughness and resistance to fire and moisture, making it competitive with conventional petroleum-based plastics. The study presents a promising biodegradable alternative that could help reduce plastic pollution.

2023 Angewandte Chemie International Edition 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing PolyelectrolyteStrength of Biopolymersfor Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics

Researchers developed a fully recyclable and biodegradable plastic material created through solid polyelectrolyte complexation of naturally occurring biopolymers, enhancing their polyelectrolyte strength to achieve mechanical properties competitive with conventional single-use packaging plastics. The study demonstrated that this approach addresses both the microplastic pollution problem and fossil fuel dependence while enabling end-of-life recyclability.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

The Unique Morphology of Coconut Petiole Fibers Facilitates the Fabrication of Plant Composites with High Impact Performance

This paper is not relevant to microplastics; it investigates the mechanical and structural properties of coconut petiole fiber composites with polylactic acid (PLA) for manufacturing applications.

2023 Polymers 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Fiber-Reinforced Gluten Biocomposites for Replacement of Fossil-Based Plastics

Researchers created biodegradable biocomposites from wheat gluten reinforced with carbon fibers as an alternative to fossil-based plastics that shed microplastics. The materials could be processed using standard industrial plastic manufacturing equipment, achieved strength two to four times greater than unreinforced protein-based materials, and were confirmed to break down into environmentally harmless molecules. This demonstrates a viable path toward high-performance plastics that do not contribute to microplastic pollution.

2023 ACS Omega 11 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