A review of biodegradable plastics in Nigeria

Synthetic polymer materials since their inception have seen vast functionality in every discipline of human endeavor indicating their importance and significance in our diurnal life. These man-made macromolecular materials are petroleum-based and most conventional ones are considered to be non-biodegradable or non-degradable, and some pose arduous to salvage or recycle considering that they are materials of intricate composition having varying levels of contamination – by biological substances and food. Petroleum resources are limited, and severe environmental effects have come into being due to the ever-growing use of non-biodegradable polymers which is a serious source of pollution affecting both fauna and flora. Furthermore, these conventional polymers, non-biodegradable polymers typically made for the long haul persist many years after disposal thus making them unsuitable for temporary use. This review focuses on biodegradable polymer alternatives as a suitable replacement for petroleum based plastics.