Application and impact of bioplastics on environment

More than eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year - a serious threat to the environment and health. Whether packaging or toys, mulch films or cars, plastics based on petrochemicals are ubiquitous - demand is rising and with it the mountains of waste. The enormous negative environmental impact of disposing of so- called "single-use" plastics is driving the market to seek new solutions, and requiring initiatives that encourage science, industry and government agencies to respond more quickly to the introduction and implementation of new materials. Bioplastics, based on natural materials such as starch or synthetic biomaterials like polylactic acid, are produced partially or entirely from renewable sources and are often marketed as a 'green' alternative. However, this does not necessarily mean that they are compostable or biodegradable, as biodegradability does not depend on the initial components of a material, but rather on its chemical structure and specific environmental properties. Numerous abiotic and biotic factors influence the possibility and rate of degradation, and environmental conditions must be suitable for biodegradation to take place. Many bio-based plastic products biodegrade only in specific environments or in industrial composting facilities, but not in the natural environment. For example, a laboratory experiment showed that the mass of PLA decreased by only 2.5% after 600 days under simulated marine environmental conditions. Similarly, studies indicate that PLA bottles and bags biodegrade by only 3% and 4%, respectively, in 180 days in the marine environment. The issue of degradation time is extremely important and needs to be properly considered when setting criteria and standards for 'biodegradable' plastics. The maximum allowable degradation times for biodegradable plastics should be short enough to ensure that they do not have harmful effects on biota and/or the environment.