Microbioplastics sources, mobility, impact, and management: a review

Biodegradable plastics have been developed as an alternative to fossil fuel-derived plastics, yet knowledge on pollution by microbioplastics has not been summarized. Here, we review microbioplastics with focus on their formation from biodegradable plastics, their mobility, distribution, impact on soils and aquatic organisms, and their management by recycling, incineration, composting, anaerobic digestion, and landfill disposal. We observe that incorporating carbon–oxygen ester linkages into the molecular backbone of biodegradable plastics, together with plant-derived additives, should enhance the usability of biodegradable plastics by augmenting thermal stability and barrier properties. Separation, recycling, and anaerobic digestion of biodegradable plastic materials should generate methane and biofertilizer.