Skip to content
Review Open access

Sustainability and performance of starch-based bioplastics: A critical review on toxicity, stability, and environmental impact

2026 · BioResources · Vol 21, pp. 9221-9251 · 0 citations

Abstract

The utilization of starch-based bioplastics as renewable and environmentally friendly alternatives to replace traditional petroleum plastics has gained significant traction in recent years due to their biodegradability, renewability, and cost-effectiveness. However, their widespread industrial applications are hindered by shelf-life constraints, high moisture sensitivity, and poor performance when subjected to variations in microbial and temperature changes. In addition, starch-based bioplastics are formulated in complex mixtures, which may result in process-related toxicity. This review critically investigates these performance issues in depth, including toxicity potential, shelf-life, microbial resistance development, thermal stability, and physical appearance. Particular emphasis is placed on the safety of natural starch sources, the influences of environmental conditions on degradation behavior, and the incorporation of natural additives to enhance material properties. By considering these factors, this review aims to facilitate the development and selection of sustainable, safer, and environmentally friendly starch-based bioplastics for diverse future applications.

Read PDF

Similar papers

Review Open access Aug 2026

Biopolymer-based food packaging: performance, environmental impact, and pathways toward a sustainable future

There has been increasing interest in exploring alternatives to conventional plastic food packaging to address associated environmental concerns. Among these alternatives, biopolymers derived from natural sources such as starch, cellulose, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and proteins have gained si...

Rajul Jain, Nishant Singhal, Harsh Vardhan et al. · 0 citations
Open access Sep 2026

Biodegradable Starch-Based Bioplastic from Chickpea: A Green Alternative to Conventional Plastics

Currently, plastic pollution is a growing global issue due to its non-biodegradability, increasing demand for eco-friendly alternatives such as bioplastics. This study explores the development of bioplastic films from chickpea starch using a three-step molding process. In the first step, starch is extracted from chickp...

Md Abdur Rahim Badsha, M. Kjelland, Chad A. Ulven et al. · 0 citations
Review Open access Aug 2026

Environmental Aspects of Bioapplications of Sustainable Polymers in Jordan

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 environ...

Laya A. Smaisam, Leen Ali, Abdelmnim M. Al Tweiq et al. · 0 citations
Open access Aug 2026

Development of Biodegradable Food Packaging from Seaweed and Cassava Starch as an Alternative to Single-Use Plastic

The accumulation of single-use plastic packaging threatens ecosystems and human health, with Indonesia ranking as the world's second-largest marine plastic polluter. Biopolymer-based packaging from renewable resources offers a sustainable alternative, yet optimization of locally available Indonesian feedstocks under tr...

Almira Ulimaz, L. Sandra · 0 citations
Review Open access Sep 2026

Sustainable soft materials for food packaging: quality preservation and environmental impact

The development of sustainable soft materials for food packaging has increased due to growing environmental concerns about traditional petroleum-based plastics. Viscoelasticity, molecular self-assembly, interfacial interactions, and tunable polymer dynamics are among the distinctive soft matter properties of bio-based...

Sweta Joshi, M. Hasan, Dhananjay Sharma et al. · 0 citations

We use cookies to run the site and, with your consent, for analytics and to show ads. See our Cookie Policy.