Environmental aging and ecotoxicological evaluation of jute cellulose-based biodegradable biopolymer (Sonali Bag®): A potential sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

Biodegradable biopolymers are increasingly promoted as sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics due to their renewable origins, degradability, and potential to mitigate plastic pollution. However, concerns regarding their degradation products and ecological effects highlight the need to evaluate their environmental aging and ecotoxicity prior to large-scale adoption. This study investigated the early-stage environmental aging of a jute cellulose-based biodegradable biopolymer (JCBB, Sonali Bag®) and assessed the ecotoxicological impacts of its pristine and aged forms using Caenorhabditis elegans, Artemia salina , and Raphanus sativus . JCBB and conventional polyethylene (PE) films were exposed to outdoor environmental conditions for one month, followed by preparation of microplastics from pristine and aged films and leachates from pristine materials for characterization and ecotoxicity assessment. SEM analysis revealed pronounced surface deterioration and fragmentation in aged JCBB, whereas PE remained comparatively intact. EDS showed oxygen enrichment of the aged JCBB surface, while FTIR indicated alterations in O-H and C-O/C-O-C functional groups, suggesting modification of the cellulose-based matrix during aging. In contrast, PE exhibited negligible physicochemical changes. Distilled-water JCBB leachates displayed acidic pH (∼4.5), elevated EC, TDS, and dissolved organic matter, whereas PE leachates remained largely chemically inert. Ecotoxicological assays demonstrated that neither JCBB microplastics nor leachates caused mortality in C. elegans following 24 h and 72 h exposure, while JCBB leachate did not affect reproduction after 6 days of exposure to 2% leachate. Similarly, 0.2% JCBB leachate caused no significant mortality in A. salina , whereas 2% leachate caused approximately 92% mortality. Future studies should be conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of toxicity through the characterization of the saline leachate and the inclusion of pH-adjusted controls. JCBB microplastic and leachate treatments also enhanced R. sativus seed germination and seedling growth, while PE treatments produced neutral or inhibitory responses. Overall, compared with conventional PE, JCBB exhibited greater susceptibility to outdoor weathering and limited adverse effects under the tested conditions although concentrated leachates may pose species-specific hazards. These findings support the potential of JCBB as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics while highlighting the need for comprehensive characterization of its leachates and released constituents.