Plastic production continues to rise while waste persists in natural and built environments, driving demand for materials that lower impacts without sacrificing performance. This review synthesizes current evidence on bioplastics that are biobased, biodegradable, or both, covering materials families, renewable feedstocks, processing routes, application performance, environmental outcomes, and end of life options. Major polymer groups include polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, starch and cellulose derivatives, and biobased drop in commodities. Feedstock pathways span lignocellulosic residues, agricultural byproducts, and algae and cyanobacteria, with attention to conversion efficiency and scalability. Application assessments focus on food packaging and construction, where property gaps in barrier performance, heat resistance, and durability can be narrowed through formulation, copolymer design, and reinforcement. Environmental analysis considers circular economy strategies, recycling and upcycling compatibility, controlled biodegradation in industrial systems, and risks from fragmentation into microplastics. Life cycle and technoeconomic perspectives highlight process sensitivities, including reactor design, extraction chemistry, energy sources, and waste handling. Policy, standards, labeling, and market communication shape adoption, while digital tools for waste collection and environmental monitoring can support accurate routing and leakage control. The review concludes with a research agenda that prioritizes harmonized standards, robust life cycle methods, microplastics and fate testing, and governance mechanisms that align incentives with verifiable circular outcomes.
Keywords: Bioplastics; Circular economy; Food packaging; Microplastics; Algal biorefineries.
