The challenges imposed by the lack of standardization in the advancement of plastic biodegradation research

Plastic biodegradation offers a sustainable complementary strategy for plastic waste management via biological depolymerization of synthetic polymers. Insects have demonstrated the ability to degrade various plastics through the synergistic action of their digestive system and intestinal microbiota. Additionally, numerous microbial strains have been identified with enzymatic capabilities to break down plastic polymers. Despite advances in this field, a major barrier to scientific progress is the lack of standardization in experimental methodologies. Variability in biodegradation agents, types of plastic, environmental conditions, and analytical approaches hinder the reproducibility, comparability, and practical application of results. Although several international standards exist for specific environments, their scope is limited and not universally applicable. This review highlights the urgent need for standardized, reproducible, and globally accepted protocols. It also emphasizes collaboration, methodological rigor, and technological innovation as central to the future of plastic biodegradation research. Clear and reliable biodegradability criteria are fundamental to scientific integrity, public trust, policymaking, and responsible innovation. The article concludes with recommendations to improve standardization across methodological, reporting, and collaborative dimensions. • Inconsistent definitions of biodegradation lead to systematic overestimation of degradation efficiency • Physical fragmentation and surface oxidation are frequently misinterpreted as mineralization • Polymer properties (e.g., crystallinity and Tg) critically influence enzymatic degradation rates • Inadequate reporting of pre-treatment and material characterization impairs data comparability • A multi-level framework is proposed to harmonize experimental design, validation metrics, and reporting practices