Polyester biodegradability: importance and potential for optimisation.

ABSTRACT: To reduce global CO₂ emissions in line with EU targets, it is essential that we replace fossil-derived plastics with renewable alternatives. This provides an opportunity to develop novel plastics with improved design features, such as better reusability, recyclability, and environmental biodegradability. Although recycling and reuse of plastics is favoured, this relies heavily on the infrastructure of waste management, which is not consistently advanced on a worldwide scale. Furthermore, today's bulk polyolefin plastics are inherently unsuitable for closed-loop recycling, but the introduction of plastics with enhanced biodegradability could help to combat issues with plastic accumulation, especially for packaging applications. It is also important to recognise that plastics ente

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10986773 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature