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From plastisphere to biorecycling: a critical review of plastic biodegradation scales, risks, and policy needs
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DOI：10.1139/er-2025-0266.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Plastic pollution has reached planetary scale, with 25-35 Mt leaking annually and cumulative environmental stocks projected to exceed 710 Mt by 2040. This critical review demonstrates that natural microbial biodegradation is 2-4 orders of magnitude too slow to offset inputs: PET and polyester-PU achieve only 5%-30% mass loss under optimal conditions, while dominant polyolefins (PE, PP), PS, and PVC remain effectively recalcitrant. Engineered enzymes can now depolymerize more than 90% of post-consumer PET within hours, enabling the emergence of the first commercial biorecycling plants in recent years. Yet these advances are polymer-specific, produce contaminated wastewater, and risk accelerating additive release and toxic intermediate formation if hyper-active degraders enter natural ecosystems. True biologically mediated circularity demands immediate integration of 13C-validated field monitoring, mandatory biosafety assessment, hybrid routes for mixed plastics, comprehensive life-cycle analysis of degradation products, and binding production caps via the Global Plastics Treaty. Without rigorous ecological oversight, biotechnological approaches to plastic degradation could introduce new environmental risks.
Keywords:
plastic biodegradation
plastisphere
enzymatic recycling
environmental risk
circular economy
Journal
IF:
5.1
Papers:
100
Citations:
3.5K
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Cited Papers