biostudies-literatureUnknown11(48)Almeida ACAThe exponential growth of plastic consumption in the last decade became a large economic and ecological issue; therefore, strategies have been used to mitigate the environmental impacts, including the manufacture of biodegradable bio-based plastics and biodegradation strategies. Herein, a new bio-based plastic was developed consisting of a polymeric recyclable matrix (polyethylene or polypropylene) with a vegetal polymeric material from cocoa husk. Mechanical and rheological properties were evaluated and the new material showed interesting tensile strength compared to completely non-biodegradable plastics. The new polymeric material was submitted to biodegradation processes using different fungi species. The biodegradation caused by <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i>, <i>Xylaria</i> sp.RSC advances29976-29985https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9040866biostudies-literatureThe sustainable cycle of a new cacao-based bioplastic: from manufacturing to exploitable biodegradation products.PMC9040866Almeida ACAPontes JGMFinocchio HAlvarenga GRFill TPfalseThe sustainable cycle of a new cacao-based bioplastic: from manufacturing to exploitable biodegradation products.The exponential growth of plastic consumption in the last decade became a large economic and ecological issue; therefore, strategies have been used to mitigate the environmental impacts, including the manufacture of biodegradable bio-based plastics and biodegradation strategies. Herein, a new bio-based plastic was developed consisting of a polymeric recyclable matrix (polyethylene or polypropylene) with a vegetal polymeric material from cocoa husk. Mechanical and rheological properties were evaluated and the new material showed interesting tensile strength compared to completely non-biodegradable plastics. The new polymeric material was submitted to biodegradation processes using different fungi species. The biodegradation caused by <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i>, <i>Xylaria</i> sp.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Sep2025-04-19T00:25:55.729Z2025-02-19T04:20:46.097ZS-EPMC90408663548026910.1039/d1ra04432j