Commercial production of bioplastic from organic waste-derived biopolymers viz-a-viz waste treatment: A minireview

Environmental pollution resulting in ecological imbalance and health hazards is among prominent global concerns. Among several causes of environmental pollution, dumping of nondegradable polymeric plastic into ecosystem is a major issue. Besides the environmental hazards associated with plastic, management of dumped plastic and recycling are a big challenge which have led to search for alternate sources for production of eco-friendly biodegradable plastics. Among different substrates, utilization of agricultural waste has been identified as most appropriate feedstock for bioplastic synthesis as along with synthesis of bioplastic, it simultaneously prevents dumping of agro waste into soil and water. High cellulose, pectin and starch content of agro waste justify it to be processed for bioplastic production. Besides agro waste, algae biomass is another economic and efficient feedstock for green plastic synthesis. Bioplastics can be effectively utilized in food packaging, agriculture, horticulture and manufacturing of numerous products; however, the commercial production and practical application of bioplastic are challenged by its durability, elasticity, tensile strength and biodegradability. The present review is a comparative study of different substrates and methods reported for synthesis of bioplastic along with their associated benefits and drawbacks.