Poly(hydroxyalkanoates): Production, Applications and End-of-Life Strategies–Life Cycle Assessment Nexus

The runaway production and consumption of oil-based plastics are key drivers of global warming and the increased carbon footprint. Besides, most of this plastic debris ends up in the oceans and constitutes about 80% of all marine debris. This pollution problem calls for a seismic shift to eco-friendly plastics and marine biodegradable ones. Unlike other biobased polymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) take pride in their degradation in soil and marine environments. This intriguing marine biodegradation property of PHAs sets it apart as the best choice to curb microplastics, particularly in marine ecosystems. PHAs have also grown in popularity due to other quintessential properties such as biocompatibility, structural variety, and similarity to conventional plastics in terms of physical properties. PHAs are being widely researched for various applications, including packaging, medical, energy, and agriculture. This perspective comprehensively focuses on the state-of-art production and applications of PHA plastics as well as the practical recycling strategies for postconsumer PHAs. The innovative "next generation industrial biotechnology" (NGIB) is well covered in this perspective. Moreover, the nexus between end-of-life strategies and life cycle assessment (LCA) of PHAs waste is elucidated to understand its impact on the environment thoroughly.