Biodegradable plastics: Prospects and application

Abstract

Polymers like plastics and rubbers are widely used all over the world in different spheres of life due to their attractive properties such as; low density, ability to resist corrosion, and excellent resistant to electricity conduction. However, the continuous use of these materials without a proper management of their wastes coupled with their low biodegradability has resulted in a huge environmental problem globally, as they accumulate both on land and in the ocean. Therefore, in the quest to solve this ecological crisis, there has been an immense interest and investments into biodegradable plastics otherwise known as bioplastics.