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Innovations in Bioplastic and Sustainable Plastics

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 532

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
Interests: bioplastic nanotechnology; bioplastics; sustainable plastics; polymer processing; eco-friendly materials; renewable resources; recycling technologies
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the latest advancements, challenges, and breakthroughs in the processing of bioplastics and sustainable plastics. As global awareness of plastic pollution and resource scarcity continues to rise, the development of eco-friendly alternatives has become imperative. This collection will present innovative research and technological advancements that enhance the performance, efficiency, and scalability of bioplastics, offering viable solutions to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics. Key topics include optimization strategies for the production of plant-based and biodegradable polymers, alongside novel manufacturing techniques that improve material properties, process efficiency, and environmental compatibility. We will also explore the integration of renewable resources and the application of circular economy principles in both production and recycling. Additionally, the issue will address the environmental impact of bioplastics through analyses of carbon footprints, degradation rates, compostability, and life-cycle assessments. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge processing technologies, highlighting collaborative efforts between academia and industry. Through diverse contributions, we seek to inspire innovative approaches that contribute to a more sustainable future for plastic materials, packaging, and beyond.

Prof. Dr. Alberto Romero García
Dr. Johar Amin Ahmed Abdullah
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodegradable polymers
  • bioplastics
  • circular economy
  • eco-friendly alternatives
  • innovative techniques
  • sustainable plastics
  • plant-based polymers
  • processing technologies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 3991 KiB  
Article
Development of Silylated Lignin-Based Intumescent Flame Retardants for Biodegradable Plastics
by Heesu Yoo, Jaemin Jo, Sung Jin Kim and Bonwook Koo
Polymers 2025, 17(13), 1727; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131727 - 20 Jun 2025
Viewed by 384
Abstract
The global market for flame-retardant materials is expected to grow steadily, from USD 7.0 billion in 2022 to USD 16.6 billion in 2030, driven by increasing demand for environment-friendly fire safety solutions in transportation, construction, and electronics. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer [...] Read more.
The global market for flame-retardant materials is expected to grow steadily, from USD 7.0 billion in 2022 to USD 16.6 billion in 2030, driven by increasing demand for environment-friendly fire safety solutions in transportation, construction, and electronics. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer which possesses excellent mechanical properties, is increasingly being considered for future mobility applications. However, it is characterized by high heat release and toxic smoke during combustion, which are significant drawbacks. In order to address this, the chemical modification of Kraft lignin was achieved through a phenolation and subsequent silylation with tetraethoxysilane, aiming to mitigate the degradation of PLA’s mechanical properties while utilizing its inherent char-forming ability. The modified lignins were combined with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and melt-mixed with PLA using an injection-mixing molder to prepare test specimens. Analysis by FT-IR, NMR spectroscopy, and SEM-EDS confirmed successful grafting of phenolic and silane functionalities, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated enhanced thermal stability of the modified lignins compared to unmodified ones. Vertical burning tests and limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurements showed that the PLA/APP/SPKL composite material achieved a V-0 UL-94 rating and 31.95% LOI, demonstrating the highest level of flame retardancy. This compares to the LOI of neat PLA, 19 to 21%. Despite the enhancement in flame retardancy to the V-0 level, the decline in tensile strength was limited, and the composite retained comparable mechanical strength to PLA-APP composites with V-2 flame retardancy. The findings indicate that the combination of phenolation and silylation of lignin with APP, a flame-retardant material, offers a viable and sustainable methodology for the fabrication of PLA composites that exhibit both flame retardancy and mechanical strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Bioplastic and Sustainable Plastics)
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