Environmental Aspects of Bioapplications of Sustainable Polymers in Jordan

Abstract

The growing use of biopolymers has positioned them as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. However, biodegradability and origin do not guarantee chemical safety, as contaminants, processing residues, functional additives, and degradation products may introduce significant human and environmental health risks. This review examines the sustainability of biopolymers used in human-contact applications through analytical techniques, with particular emphasis on Jordan’s emerging bioeconomy. Jordan possesses abundant renewable feedstocks growing in saline environments, yet a gap remains in determining whether these geochemical stressors impact the feedstock and, thus, the finished biopolymer product. Twelve locally studied polymer systems are evaluated for potential contamination pathways and their fit within life-cycle frameworks. Current studies prioritise equal usability over synthetic plastics across various applications, but developments in trace-element screening of feedstocks, region-specific life-cycle inventory data, and frameworks and regulatory standards, especially for long-term exposure, will confirm holistic sustainability rather than mere degradability.