Engineering Sustainable Bioplastics From Marine Polysaccharides: Extraction, Characterization, Performance Metrics, and Life Cycle Assessment
Abstract
The production and utilization of petroleum‐based plastics cause severe environmental degradation and climate alteration. These conventional plastics release greenhouse gases and hazardous chemicals during production, and their resistance to degradation—persisting undamaged for over 60 years—fuels critical marine pollution. To mitigate these issues, research is shifting toward biobased plastics as sustainable, biocompatible, and biodegradable alternatives. Derived from renewable biomass or microbes, these materials include starches, cellulose, casein, and diverse polysaccharides sourced from red ( Rhodophyta ), green ( Chlorophyta ), and brown ( Phaeophyta ) algae. Aligning with the principles of a circular bioeconomy, this approach maximizes resource efficiency and minimizes waste. Furthermore, innovative materials like Bio‐PET, polybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are increasingly deployed to replace traditional plastics. Beyond offering excellent preservation against oxidation and microbial decomposition in food packaging, these bioplastics show immense promise in medicine, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. This review article evaluates the diverse natural sources of bioplastics, analyzes their mechanical, thermal, and physical properties, and highlights their most promising future applications.