Polymer Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biological Research Centre Margarita Salas, Spanish National Research Council (CIB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics Towards a Circular Economy-CSIC (SusPlast-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
Microb Biotechnol. 2024 Apr;17(4):e14458. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.14458.
Bioplastics, comprised of bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers, have the potential to play a crucial role in the transition towards a sustainable circular economy. The use of biodegradable polymers not only leads to reduced greenhouse gas emissions but also might address the problem of plastic waste persisting in the environment, especially when removal is challenging. Nevertheless, biodegradable plastics should not be considered as substitutes for proper waste management practices, given that their biodegradability strongly depends on environmental conditions. Among the challenges hindering the sustainable implementation of bioplastics in the market, the development of effective downstream recycling routes is imperative, given the increasing production volumes of these materials. Here, we discuss about the most advisable end-of-life scenarios for bioplastics. Various recycling strategies, including mechanical, chemical or biological (both enzymatic and microbial) approaches, should be considered. Employing enzymes as biocatalysts emerges as a more selective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical recycling, allowing the production of new bioplastics and added value and high-quality products. Other pending concerns for industrial implementation of bioplastics include misinformation among end users, the lack of a standardised bioplastic labelling, unclear life cycle assessment guidelines and the need for higher financial investments. Although further research and development efforts are essential to foster the sustainable and widespread application of bioplastics, significant strides have already been made in this direction.
生物塑料由生物基和/或可生物降解的聚合物组成，有可能在向可持续循环经济转型中发挥关键作用。使用可生物降解聚合物不仅可以减少温室气体排放，还有可能解决塑料废物在环境中持续存在的问题，尤其是在难以清除的情况下。然而，由于其生物降解性强烈依赖于环境条件，因此不应将可生物降解塑料视为适当废物管理实践的替代品。在市场上可持续实施生物塑料的各种挑战中，发展有效的下游回收途径至关重要，因为这些材料的产量不断增加。在这里，我们讨论了生物塑料最可取的报废场景。应考虑各种回收策略，包括机械、化学或生物（酶和微生物）方法。使用酶作为生物催化剂比化学回收更具选择性和环保性，可生产新的生物塑料和附加值、高质量的产品。生物塑料工业实施的其他待解决问题包括终端用户的信息误解、缺乏标准化的生物塑料标签、不明确的生命周期评估指南以及更高的财务投资需求。尽管需要进一步的研究和开发努力来促进生物塑料的可持续和广泛应用，但在这方面已经取得了重大进展。
