Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) degrading soil bacteria: an overview

Despite their important role in food safety, medical safety, and other industries, plastic pollution remains one of the world’s leading environmental issues. One particular plastic is Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which has a relatively poor biodegradability. There are various traditional ways of managing plastic waste, but it takes years for plastic debris to degrade completely. Numerous conventional approaches have been proposed, but some pose environmental risks, prompting researchers to explore additional options. Using bacteria (e.g., Ideonella sakaiensis and Thermobifida fusca) to degrade plastics has been considered an alternative, sustainable approach to plastic waste management. In this paper, we briefly provide an overview of the role of plastics, their impact on the environment, their management, and the prospect for PET-degrading bacteria as one of the sustainable approaches in plastic, specifically PET, management.