POLYMERS AND SUSTAINABILITY: OVERVIEW OF THE USE OF CONVENCIONAL AND BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS

This article aims to provide an overview of important moments in the consolidation of the use of conventional and biodegradable polymers throughout history. It begins by discussing the definition of conventional and biodegradable plastics, followed by a historical contextualization of petroleum-derived plastics, referred to here as conventional plastics, highlighting significant events in their evolution. The article then emphasizes the development and growth of biodegradable polymer applications. To this end, a literature review was conducted, supported by data collection from publications discussing polymer technologies. The studies highlight the environmental advantages of biodegradable polymers, despite their still higher production costs. Although biodegradable polymers are a viable alternative to petroleum-derived polymers, there are cases in which their use is not yet feasible, depending on the context of application, economic conditions, and consumer experience.