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Cited by 495biodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesMicroplastics and Plastic PollutionPolymer crystallization and properties

Biodegradable Plastics: Standards, Policies, and Impacts

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Filiciotto, Layla, Rothenberg, Gadi·2021·ChemSusChem
DOI 10.1002/cssc.202002044PMC PMC7821290
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Abstract

Plastics are ubiquitous in our society. They are in our phones, clothes, bottles, and cars. Yet having improved our lives considerably, they now threaten our environment and our health. The associated carbon emissions and persistency of plastics challenge the fragile balance of many ecosystems. One solution is using biodegradable plastics. Ideally, such plastics are easily assimilated by microorganisms and disappear from our environment. This can help reduce the problems of climate change, microplastics, and littering. However, biodegradable plastics are still only a tiny portion of the global plastics market and require further efforts in research and commercialization. Here, a critical overview of the state of the art of biodegradable plastics is given. Using a material flow analysis, the challenges of the plastic market are highlighted, and with it the large market potential of biodegradable plastics. The environmental and socio‐economic impact of plastics, government policies, standards and certifications, physico‐chemical properties, and analytical techniques are covered. The Review concludes with a personal outlook on the future of bioplastics, based on our own experience with their development and commercialization.

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  • There has not been established international standards to define home-compostable plastics.

    “It is also noted that there has not been established international standards to define home-compostable plastics (Filiciotto and Rothenberg, 2021).”

    From Packaging design for the circular economy: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as Filiciotto and Rothenberg, 2021

    The Standards and Certifications for Biodegradable Plastics section describes an “OK home compostable” label and standards that vary by compost environment. It does not say whether an international standard defining home-compostable plastics has or has not been established (searched: “home compostable” and “no international standard for home composting”). (LLM, conf=0.70)

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Authors
Filiciotto, L., & Rothenberg, G.
Affiliations
University of Amsterdam (NL)
Corresponding author
Rothenberg, Gadi
ORCID
Venue
ChemSusChem
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2020-10-28
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
56-72
ISSN
  • 1864-5631 (ISSN-L)
  • 1864-564X
DOI
10.1002/cssc.202002044
PMC
PMC7821290
OpenAlex
W3094895370
Cited by
495
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 77 · 2025: 107 · 2024: 114 · 2023: 102 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 1
FWCI
3.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • ChemSusChem (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
Keywords
biodegradable plastics, bioplastics, plastic pollution, microplastics, material flow analysis, environmental impact, socio-economic impacts, public policy, standards and certification, physicochemical properties, analytical methods, commercialization, climate change, littering
MeSH terms
Polyacrylamides, Acrylic Resins, Animals, Biodegradation, Environmental, Biotechnology, Environmental Pollution, Humans, Nylons, Ecosystem, Waste Management, Food Chain, Polyethylene, Climate Change, Biodegradable Plastics

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