CHAPTER I
LITTERATURE REVIEW
19
to extract PHA from cells through halogenated solvents such as CHCl₃ and CH₂Cl₂. However,
these are toxic chemicals primarily used to prevent polymeric solutions from becoming too
viscous. (Censi et al., 2022).
A wide variety of bioplastics have been introduced to address the environmental challenges
associated with conventional petroleum-derived plastics. However, bioplastics are not without
shortcomings. Studies show that even bio-based plastics cannot be easily recycled. In fact,
bioplastics also end up in landfills, wherein gradually undergo degradation, leading to CO2 and
methane formation. Nevertheless, it is important to assess the environmental impact of
bioplastics compared to the damage caused by conventional plastics (Censi et al., 2022).
2.4 Usage
Currently, bioplastics find widespread application primarily in packaging, And industrial
containers and materials, such as bottles, film, clamshell cartons, and loose-fill materials, as
well as waste collection and carrier bags. Plastic packaging, constituting 37% of plastic usage
in Europe, holds significant prominence, with food packaging emerging as the largest plasticconsuming sector within the packaging domain (Chen, 2013).
Table 1: Overview of bioplastics (source: Lackner et al., 2023).
Bioplastic
Material
Short
Family
(Class)
Biobased Biodegradable Applications Fossil
Counter
parts
Poly(lactic acid)
PLA
Polyester Yes
Partly
Packaging,
3D printing,
consumer
goods,
medical
fields,
agriculture
PS
Polyhydroxyalkan
oates
PHA
Polyester Yes
Yes
Packaging,
3D printing,
biomedical
use,
bioremediati
PP and
others
LITTERATURE REVIEW
19
to extract PHA from cells through halogenated solvents such as CHCl₃ and CH₂Cl₂. However,
these are toxic chemicals primarily used to prevent polymeric solutions from becoming too
viscous. (Censi et al., 2022).
A wide variety of bioplastics have been introduced to address the environmental challenges
associated with conventional petroleum-derived plastics. However, bioplastics are not without
shortcomings. Studies show that even bio-based plastics cannot be easily recycled. In fact,
bioplastics also end up in landfills, wherein gradually undergo degradation, leading to CO2 and
methane formation. Nevertheless, it is important to assess the environmental impact of
bioplastics compared to the damage caused by conventional plastics (Censi et al., 2022).
2.4 Usage
Currently, bioplastics find widespread application primarily in packaging, And industrial
containers and materials, such as bottles, film, clamshell cartons, and loose-fill materials, as
well as waste collection and carrier bags. Plastic packaging, constituting 37% of plastic usage
in Europe, holds significant prominence, with food packaging emerging as the largest plasticconsuming sector within the packaging domain (Chen, 2013).
Table 1: Overview of bioplastics (source: Lackner et al., 2023).
Bioplastic
Material
Short
Family
(Class)
Biobased Biodegradable Applications Fossil
Counter
parts
Poly(lactic acid)
PLA
Polyester Yes
Partly
Packaging,
3D printing,
consumer
goods,
medical
fields,
agriculture
PS
Polyhydroxyalkan
oates
PHA
Polyester Yes
Yes
Packaging,
3D printing,
biomedical
use,
bioremediati
PP and
others