Review of Types and Applications of Bioplastics

Abstract: The amount of plastic waste in oceans is likely to surpass the number of fish in the ocean by 2050. Hence, it is important to replace plastic with safer alternatives such as 'Bioplastics', which are biocompatible and biodegradable. Bioplastics are polymers obtained from natural renewable sources. These biodegradable polymers have wide applications in the food packaging, automobile, and biomedical industries. Many companies are investing in the research and development of more efficient bioplastics. The market trends for bioplastics are increasing due to environmental and economic reasons. This review focuses on the types of bioplastics, their composition and current applications in the market. Various advantages as well as their challenges are discussed further for their potential research and to promote their sustainability.

Keywords: Bioplastics, biodegradability, PHA, PHB, PLA.