Polyhydroxybutyrates: A Sustainable Alternative for Synthetic Polymers

Over the past decade, petroleum-based plastics have emerged as a significant concern, disrupting normal human life cycles. The adverse impacts of synthetic plastics on living organisms include their accumulation in both marine and terrestrial habitats, lack of proper disposal methods, slow biodegradation rates, and absence of natural degradation processes. Consequently, researchers have been driven to develop eco-friendly polymers that pose minimal harm to the environment. Among the most prevalent alternatives to synthetic plastics are biopolymers, with Polyhydroxybutyrates standing out as a widely used example due to its properties suitable for replacing conventional plastics. Biopolymers offer solutions to the drawbacks of synthetic plastics. When biopolymers are released into the environment, they do not generate toxic chemicals that harm living organisms. These biopolymers are already in use in various industries. Through this review, we would understand the usage of these biopolymers in various industries.