Is There Hope to Switch Traditional Plastics into Sustainable?
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Published
Aug 25, 2025
Abstract
Plastics, once hailed as revolutionary materials, have become one of the greatest environmental burdens of modern society. The global reliance on petroleum-based plastics, driven by durability, affordability, and versatility, has fueled exponential growth in production but also intensified ecological damage. Microplastics pollute ecosystems, greenhouse emissions accelerate climate change, and waste management systems are overwhelmed. Yet, a paradigm shift is emerging: the pursuit of sustainable alternatives. From bioplastics derived from renewable biomass to recyclable and biodegradable polymers, innovation is accelerating. Governments are enacting stricter regulations, industries are investing in circular economy strategies, and consumers are increasingly demanding greener choices. Still, challenges persist, including scalability, cost competitiveness, infrastructure readiness, and the real environmental trade-offs of “green” plastics.
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Keywords
Polyethene Plastics, Sustainability, Microplastics, Ecosystem, Green Plastics
Supporting Agencies
No funding source declared.
References
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Bocken, N. M., Harsch, A., & Weissbrod, I. (2022). Circular business models for the fastmoving consumer goods industry: Desirability, feasibility, and viability. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 30, 799–814. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.01.012
Bos, P., Ritzen, L., Van Dam, S., Balkenende, R., & Bakker, C. (2024). Bio-Based plastics in Product Design: the state of the art and challenges to overcome. Sustainability, 16(8), 3295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083295
Choe, S., Kim, Y., Won, Y., & Myung, J. (2021). Bridging three gaps in biodegradable plastics: Misconceptions and truths about biodegradation. Frontiers in Chemistry, 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.671750
Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
Helm, L. T., Murphy, E. L., McGivern, A., & Borrelle, S. B. (2022). Impacts of plastic waste management strategies. Environmental Reviews, 31(1), 45–65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2021-0117
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Jambeck, J. R., & Walker-Franklin, I. (2023). The impacts of plastics’ life cycle. One Earth, 6(6), 600–606. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.05.015
Lin, J., Jaiswal, A. K., & Jaiswal, S. (2025). A critical review of consumer perception and environmental impacts of bioplastics in sustainable food packaging. Sustainability, 17(4), 1358. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041358
Liu, C., Zhuo, Q., Ishimura, Y., Hotta, Y., Aoki-Suzuki, C., & Watabe, A. (2025). Regional insights on the usage of Single-Use plastics and their disposal in five Asian cities. Sustainability, 17(10), 4276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104276
Lotter, B., Konde, S., Nguyen, J., Grau, M., Koch, M., & Lenz, P. (2022). Identifying plastics with photoluminescence spectroscopy and machine learning. Scientific Reports, 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23414-3
Moraczewski, K., Stepczyńska, M., Raszkowska-Kaczor, A., Szymańska, L., & Rytlewski, P. (2025). PLA/PCL Polymer Material for Food Packaging with Enhanced Antibacterial Properties. Polymers, 17(9), 1134. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091134
Nikolaivits, E., Pantelic, B., Azeem, M., Taxeidis, G., Babu, R., Topakas, E., Fournet, M. B., & Nikodinovic-Runic, J. (2021). Progressing Plastics Circularity: A Review of Mechano-Biocatalytic Approaches for Waste Plastic (Re)valorization. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2021.696040
Pinter, E., Welle, F., Mayrhofer, E., Pechhacker, A., Motloch, L., Lahme, V., Grant, A., & Tacker, M. (2021). Circularity Study on PET Bottle-To-Bottle recycling. Sustainability, 13(13), 7370. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137370
Polyportis, A., Magnier, L., & Mugge, R. (2022). Guidelines to Foster Consumer Acceptance of Products Made from Recycled Plastics. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 3(2), 939–952. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00202-9
Saleem, J., Moghal, Z. K. B., Shakoor, R. A., Luyt, A. S., & McKay, G. (2023). Non-Wettable microporous sheets using mixed polyolefin waste for Oil–Water separation. Polymers, 15(14), 3072. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15143072
Samir, A., Ashour, F. H., Hakim, A. a. A., & Bassyouni, M. (2022). Recent advances in biodegradable polymers for sustainable applications. Npj Materials Degradation, 6(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-022-00277-7
Shah, K. U., & Gangadeen, I. (2023). Integrating bioplastics into the US plastics supply chain: towards a policy research agenda for the bioplastic transition. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1245846
Sohn, Y. J., Kim, H. T., Baritugo, K., Jo, S. Y., Song, H. M., Park, S. Y., Park, S. K., Pyo, J., Cha, H. G., Kim, H., Na, J., Park, C., Choi, J., Joo, J. C., & Park, S. J. (2020). Recent advances in sustainable plastic upcycling and biopolymers. Biotechnology Journal, 15(6). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/biot.201900489
Totorica, N., & Li, F. (2022). Signal and power integrity challenges for high density System-on-Package. Semiconductor Science and Information Devices, 4(2), 1–9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/ssid.v4i2.4475
Vats, S., & Rissanen, M. (2016). Parameters affecting the upcycling of waste cotton and PES/CO textiles. Recycling, 1(1), 166–177. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling1010166
Villano, M., Valentino, F., Barbetta, A., Martino, L., Scandola, M., & Majone, M. (2013). Polyhydroxyalkanoates production with mixed microbial cultures: from culture selection to polymer recovery in a high-rate continuous process. New Biotechnology, 31(4), 289–296. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2013.08.001
Vora, N., Christensen, P. R., Demarteau, J., Baral, N. R., Keasling, J. D., Helms, B. A., & Scown, C. D. (2021). Leveling the cost and carbon footprint of circular polymers that are chemically recycled to monomer. Science Advances, 7(15). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abf0187
Welle, F. (2011). Twenty years of PET bottle to bottle recycling—An overview. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 55(11), 865–875. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2011.04.009
Xayachak, T., Haque, N., Lau, D., Parthasarathy, R., & Pramanik, B. K. (2023). Assessing the environmental footprint of plastic pyrolysis and gasification: A life cycle inventory study. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 173, 592–603. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2023.03.061
Zaimes, G., Vora, N., Chopra, S., Landis, A., & Khanna, V. (2015). Design of sustainable biofuel processes and supply chains: challenges and opportunities. Processes, 3(3), 634–663. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr3030634
How to Cite
Schäfer, L. (2025). Is There Hope to Switch Traditional Plastics into Sustainable?. Science Insights, 47(2), 1913–1917. https://doi.org/10.15354/si.25.pe253
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