Biotechnological tools for the effective management of plastics in the environment

Abstract

Plastics are an inescapable reality of modern society. Found in all sectors and activities, they have brought unquestionable societal benefits. However, their most desirable characteristics – durability, flexibility, resistance to degradation and low cost – also render these materials highly problematic from an environmental perspective. The exponential increase in their production has led to their subsequent accumulation in the environment, particularly in Oceans, and current conventional treatments of plastic waste are of very limited efficiency. Herein, we overview these existing solutions and contrast them with alternative strategies for the treatment of plastic waste, whether such approaches are based on the production of new, eco-friendlier products, or based on the biodegradation of these materials increasingly present in the environment. It is also discussed how biotechnology-based approaches can play a pivotal role in enhancing biodegradation strategies and how these can be integrated in a circular economy model, effectively leading from waste to wealth.