Overview on Bio-based Polymers

Abstract

Synthetic polymers are an imperative manmade discovery that has long been under environmental scrutiny due to their several detriments such as slow or nondegradation, diminutive re-usage, and severe milieu effects. A rough estimate indicates that 8300 million metric tons of virgin plastic are produced using synthetic materials to date, of which only 9% have been recycled until 2015. The detrimental effects of a synthetic polymeric waste product on surroundings can be slowed down by replacing it with biopolymers. Biodegradable polymers are materials that degrade due to the action of either aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms and/or enzymes. Environmental protection agency and PlasticEurope indicated that biodegradable polymers have shown a promising impact on the environment with a decline in the waste and toxic gas produced by either burying or incinerating synthetic polymers and their products. Moreover, the replacement of plastic products with bio-polymeric material for general, pharmaceutical, and agricultural use has also shown a significant decline in waste plastic in landfills and oceans. Furthermore, the potential market share of biopolymers growing gradually and is projected to generate 10.6 billion US Dollars by 2026. However, the potential biodegradable polymers market capital share has yet not reached its peak, due to the non-availability of specific regulatory standards and approval process. Thus, a complete replacement of synthetic polymers with biodegradable polymeric materials can be a paradigm shift for nature and human beings. This chapter acmes on the history of biodegradable materials and their impact on nature with their regulatory requirements to gain market capital share.