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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Biodegradable Menstrual Pads from Hydrophytic Weeds: Sustainability Assessment, Absorption Performance, and Microbial Safety
ClearNatural Alternatives to Plastic Wrappers in Disposal of Sanitary Pads: a Review
This review discusses how plastic-heavy disposable sanitary pads contribute to microplastic pollution and environmental waste, and evaluates natural material alternatives including cotton, bamboo, and plant-based polymers that could reduce the environmental footprint of menstrual hygiene products.
PLA-Chitosan Composites as Sustainable Alternatives for Menstrual Pads
Researchers developed biodegradable PLA-chitosan composite films as an environmentally friendly alternative to polyethylene in menstrual pads, demonstrating that the composite maintained absorbency and mechanical integrity while offering antimicrobial properties and full biodegradability.
Natural Alternatives to Plastic Wrappers in Disposal of Sanitary Pads: a Review
This review examines the environmental impact of plastic components in disposable sanitary pads—which can contain up to 90% plastic—and proposes natural biodegradable alternatives such as bamboo fiber, jute, and plant-based coatings to reduce microplastic pollution from menstrual products.
Porous Thermoformed Protein Bioblends as Degradable Absorbent Alternatives in Sanitary Materials
This study demonstrates that biodegradable protein-based foams made from industrial byproduct proteins (zein and gluten) can be processed into absorbent pads and films that perform like conventional disposable sanitary products — without the plastic components that shed microplastics. By replacing nonbiodegradable polymer layers in diapers and pads with compostable biopolymers, this approach could cut a major but underappreciated source of microplastic pollution.
Reusable Sanitary Pad
Researchers developed and tested a reusable sanitary pad with wings composed of individually designed fabric layers as a sustainable alternative to disposable single-use pads. Testing demonstrated acceptable performance across drying time, pilling resistance, tensile strength, water vapor resistance, and air permeability, supporting reusable pads as an environmentally preferable option given that disposable pads typically end up in landfills or are incinerated.
Phytoremediation of microplastics by water hyacinth
Researchers found that water hyacinth, a fast-growing floating plant, can remove 55-69% of microplastics from contaminated water within 48 hours through root adsorption. The plant's massive root surface area traps plastic particles, while a special structure in the stem prevents the plastics from reaching the leaves. This study offers a promising natural, low-cost approach to cleaning microplastics from waterways.
Disposal of Sanitary Pads
This paper discusses the environmental and public health challenges posed by improper sanitary pad disposal, highlighting that conventional pads release microplastics and toxins as they degrade. The authors advocate for incineration and biodegradable alternatives as solutions.
Biodegradability and Water Absorption of Macadamia Nutshell Powder-Reinforced Poly(lactic Acid) Biocomposites
Researchers studied biodegradable composites made from macadamia nutshell powder and polylactic acid to assess their breakdown and water absorption properties. The study found that increasing the nutshell powder content generally improved biodegradability but also increased water absorption. Evidence indicates that these plant-based biocomposites show promise as more sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, though their properties vary with processing methods.
Water hyacinth-inspired self-floating photocatalytic system for efficient and sustainable water purification
Researchers developed a floating water purification device inspired by the water hyacinth plant, combining a buoyant porous structure with a light-activated photocatalyst to break down pollutants. The device effectively degraded various contaminants including dyes, antibiotics, and microplastics using only sunlight, while remaining stable in both still and flowing water. The study demonstrates a practical, sustainable approach to water cleanup that works without chemicals or external energy sources.
Biodegradable fabric with efficient thermal-wet management for eco-friendly weed control and water retention of soil
Researchers developed an eco-friendly weed control fabric from jute fiber as a sustainable alternative to plastic-based ground covers that shed microplastics into soil. By adjusting the fabric density and porosity, they controlled how much sunlight and water could pass through, effectively suppressing weed growth while reducing water evaporation. The biodegradable jute fabric avoids the microplastic contamination problems associated with conventional synthetic weed barriers.
Loofah plant—Derived biodegradable superhydrophobic sponge for effective removal of oil and microplastic from water
Researchers developed biodegradable superhydrophobic sponges from loofah plants coated with natural wax that removed over 99% of oil and polystyrene microplastics from water, with high absorption capacity and excellent recyclability through simple squeezing.
Sustainable Biodegradable Biocomposites Reinforced With Natural Fibers: A Review on Processing, Properties, and Degradation
As concern grows about plastic waste and microplastic pollution from synthetic polymers, this review examines biodegradable biocomposites reinforced with natural plant fibers as a more sustainable alternative. The authors find that these materials can match or exceed the mechanical performance of conventional plastics while actually degrading in the environment — but note a critical gap: lab biodegradation tests often do not reflect real-world conditions, creating uncertainty about how quickly these materials actually break down. Better standardized testing and lifecycle analysis are needed to confirm whether natural fiber biocomposites can genuinely replace conventional plastics at industrial scale.
Stability Studies, Biodegradation Tests, and Mechanical Properties of Sodium Alginate and Gellan Gum Beads Containing Surfactant
Researchers developed sodium alginate and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose composite films as biodegradable alternatives to conventional wet wipes, evaluating their stability, mechanical properties, and biodegradation behavior to address the plastic waste problem from single-use hygiene products.
New Method of Fabricating Carbon Materials via Uptake of Nanoplastics into Eichhornia crassipes for Enhancing Supercapacitance
Researchers used water hyacinth plants that had absorbed polystyrene nanoplastics as a raw material to produce high-performance carbon electrodes for energy storage. While the study is primarily about materials engineering, it demonstrates a novel approach to removing nanoplastics from water using plants and converting the contaminated biomass into a useful product, potentially addressing two environmental problems at once.
Fabrication of Biodegradable Materials Using Sodium Alginate and Tamarind Seed Powder
Researchers developed biodegradable biofilms for textile applications by combining sodium alginate with tamarind seed powder and natural flower extracts — hibiscus for pH sensitivity, marigold for UV protection, and rose for antioxidant activity — creating sustainable fabric alternatives that avoid microplastic pollution associated with synthetic fabrics persisting in landfills for centuries.
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.
Assessing the biodegradability of microparticles disposed down the drain
This study tested the biodegradability of microparticles made from natural and biodegradable materials proposed as alternatives to synthetic microplastic particles in personal care products, finding that they broke down efficiently under standard conditions. The results support the use of naturally derived microparticles as safer substitutes for plastic microbeads in cosmetics.
Impact of conventional and biobased microplastics from mulch films on soil bulk density, hydraulic conductivity and water retention in two different soil types under wetting−drying cycles
Researchers ran an 8-month greenhouse experiment and found that conventional plastic microplastics had little effect on soil density or drainage, but biodegradable starch-based microplastics at high concentrations increased water availability by about 5% in sandy loam soil, showing that even "eco-friendly" plastics can alter soil water dynamics.
Hi̇jyeni̇k Pedleri̇n Ci̇lt Tabakasina Uygun Dokusuz Yüzeyleri̇n Konfor Bi̇leşenleri̇ni̇n İncelenmesi̇
This study evaluated the comfort and functional properties of nonwoven fabrics containing viscose, viscose/polyester blends, and Tencel for use as the skin-contact top layer in sanitary pads. As single-use hygiene products are a significant source of plastic waste, understanding performance trade-offs is relevant to developing lower-impact alternatives.
A progress update on the biological effects of biodegradable microplastics on soil and ocean environment: A perfect substitute or new threat?
This review examines whether biodegradable plastics, often marketed as eco-friendly alternatives, actually break down safely in the environment. The evidence shows that biodegradable plastics often fragment into microplastics rather than fully decomposing, and these biodegradable microplastics can harm soil organisms, marine life, and disrupt nutrient cycles. The findings suggest that simply switching to biodegradable plastics may not solve the microplastic pollution problem and could introduce new environmental risks.
Bio-based materials from Po River organic waste: a Do It Yourself design.
Italian researchers explored how aquatic plant biomass from an invasive water plant in the Po River could be converted into bio-based materials as an alternative to fossil-based plastics. Lab experiments yielded 31 different material prototypes, with some showing promising properties for applications in footwear and other industries.
Superabsorbent Polymers: From long-established, microplastics generating systems, to sustainable, biodegradable and future proof alternatives
This review examined how conventional acrylate-based superabsorbent polymers generate microplastics due to their non-biodegradable nature, and assessed emerging biodegradable alternatives that could provide sustainable, future-proof replacements for hygiene and agricultural applications.
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.
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.