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Biopolymers are promising sustainable alternatives to petrochemical polymers, but the recent increase in published research articles has not translated into marketable products. Here, we discuss barriers to market entry by exploring application-specific, ecological, and economic aspects, such as the utilization of biodegradable polymers to mitigate the accumulation of microplastics. We summarize previous studies revealing how fiber surface properties and the dwell time during fiber spinning affect degradability. We show how biopolymers can be processed on existing machines and how degradability can be tailored by changing process parameters. This novel approach, known as degradation by design, will allow us to rethink product development and ensure that biopolymers are not only able to replace petrochemical polymers but also reduce the environmental harm they cause.
Schick et al. (Mon,) studied this question.