Sustainable bioplastic: a comprehensive review on sources, methods, advantages, and applications of bioplastics

ABSTRACT

Throughout its lifespan, petroleum-based plastics are associated with a number of environmental problems, including pollution, the release of greenhouse gases, persistence in aquatic and terrestrial environments, etc. As an alternative to conventional plastics generated from petroleum, bioplastics, a class of polymeric materials that is quickly developing, are regularly promoted. The development of renewable resources led to the emergence of bioplastic substitutes. Since these polymers employed sustainable resources like agricultural wastes (instead of petroleum sources) and are biodegradable under different conditions, they are more commonly accepted than conventional plastics. Bioplastics’ physical and chemical composition significantly affects how quickly they deteriorate. Natural biomass sources can be used to produce bioplastics like starch, cellulose, chitosan, chitin, and polyhydroxyalkanoates. All these bioplastics have the appropriate physiochemical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics to be used in the development of bioplastics that are naturally biobased and biodegradable. Biopolymers are used for more than just bioplastics, including sustainable manufacturing. In this review, we have covered the different types of bioplastics, their classification, sources, production techniques, advantages over traditional petroleum-based plastics, and their applications in different sectors. Also, industries involved in the production of bioplastics worldwide has also been mentioned.

Highlights

• Bioplastics serves as a potential substitute for the fossil-based plastics.

• Several sources (Agro and Kitchen waste) for bioplastic production are studied.

• Various bioplastics production methods are identified e.g. Casting, Molding, Extrusion, and Film-blowing.

• Analysis of studies is provided on bioplastic application in different industries along with their real-time applications.

• The use of bioplastic is an essential step toward achieving overall sustainability of the environment.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Biodegradable
• bioplastics
• food waste
• packaging
• sources

Author bio

Kanchan Chauhan has done her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from the Department of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida. She has completed her Master’s degree in biotechnology from the Department of Biotechnology, Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India. She is mainly interested in exploring the field of biopolymers and their applications in the environment.

Rishpreet Kaur has done her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the Department of Biotechnology, Panjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, India. She has completed her Master’s degree in Biotechnology from Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy at Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India on “Functionalized bioplastics and their applications.”

Indu Chauhan is currently an Assistant Professor in Department of Biotechnology at Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India. She obtained her Ph.D. on functionalized cellulose matrices for environmental remediations from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India in 2015. Her research interest are focused on nanobiotechnology, biopolymers, environmental remediation, waste management, bioplastics and aerogels.

Acknowledgments

Author acknowledges Ministry of Education, Govt. of India and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Punjab, India for supporting this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author Contributions

All the authors have contributed in writing and completing this review article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kanchan Chauhan

Kanchan Chauhan has done her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from the Department of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida. She has completed her Master’s degree in biotechnology from the Department of Biotechnology, Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India. She is mainly interested in exploring the field of biopolymers and their applications in the environment.

Rishpreet Kaur

Rishpreet Kaur has done her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the Department of Biotechnology, Panjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, India. She has completed her Master’s degree in Biotechnology from Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy at Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India on “Functionalized bioplastics and their applications.”

Indu Chauhan

Indu Chauhan is currently an Assistant Professor in Department of Biotechnology at Dr. B.R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India. She obtained her Ph.D. on functionalized cellulose matrices for environmental remediations from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India in 2015. Her research interest are focused on nanobiotechnology, biopolymers, environmental remediation, waste management, bioplastics and aerogels.