Biomass-derived plastics: Valorization, extraction, and circular bioeconomy applications

The escalating accumulation of persistent petrochemical plastics has generated significant environmental and human-health concerns, necessitating the development of sustainable polymer alternatives. This review examines feedstock valorization, extraction methodologies, and functional applications of biomass-derived plastics within a circular bioeconomy framework, focusing on biologically sourced and microbial fermented polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) that offer reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and compatibility with circular-economy principles. A bibliometric and PRISMA-based analysis of the Scopus database (2010–2026) was conducted, encompassing contributions from 175 countries, of which 92 met the threshold of at least five publications; VOSviewer-based keyword co-occurrence analysis of over 1160 keywords, of which 71 satisfied the minimum-occurrence criterion, revealed an exponential rise in bioplastic research led by India, Italy and China with lignocellulosic biomass emerging as a central theme linking bioplastics and circular-economy scholarship. The review highlights green extraction methods, physical, chemical, and enzymatic, for maximizing yield and reducing environmental impact. Applications of bioplastics across packaging, biomedical, automotive, textile, agricultural, and electronic sectors are also discussed, reinforcing their contribution to sustainable production systems. However, challenges such as high production costs, limited mechanical and thermal performance, processing limitations, feedstock variability, and inadequate recycling and end-of-life infrastructure persist. Recent developments in polymer blending, additive modification, and valorization of lignocellulosic and waste biomass feedstocks are identified as promising strategies to overcome these barriers. Ultimately, this bibliometric and analytical synthesis positions bioplastics as a pivotal step toward achieving circular bioeconomy goals by promoting resource efficiency, environmental protection, and reduced dependence on fossil-based polymers.