The hidden costs of biodegradable plastics: Environmental persistence, microplastic toxicity, and implications for sustainable development

Authors

  • Ekow Mensah Kakra Department of Sociology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas, United States
  • Adeyemi Abejoye Department of of Environmental Science,University of New Haven, 902 Orange Ave, West Haven, Connecticut, United States
  • Ishola Abdul Dimeji Industrial Chemistry Department Federal University of Agriculture and Development studies, Iragbiji, Osun State 230211, Nigeria
  • Opeyemi oluwasegun Lawal Lawal, Linz Institute of Technology (LIT), Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz 4040, Austria
  • Rita Ogboh Faculty of pharmacology and toxicology, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa state 560103, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61511/ajteoh.v4i1.2026.3953

Keywords:

biodegradation standards, ecotoxicology, environmental persistence, microplastics, sustainability policy

Abstract

Background: Biodegradable plastics are widely promoted as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, yet their real-world environmental benefits are often overstated relative to performance under standard certification conditions. This narrative review examines the gap between biodegradability certification standards and degradation under real-world conditions, the formation of microplastics and nanoplastics from biodegradable polymers, their toxicological effects, and the implications for sustainability policy. Methods: Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar and synthesised narratively across four themes: polymer chemistry and certification, micro- and nanoplastic generation, ecotoxicological evidence, and policy implications. Findings: Common bioplastics, including polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and starch-based polymers, frequently degrade slowly in natural environments and can fragment into persistent microplastics and nanoplastics; these particles have been associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and ecological harm across multiple biological levels of organisation. Conclusion: Biodegradable plastics can contribute to reducing plastic pollution, but their benefits are conditional on effective waste management, stronger regulatory oversight, and informed use; a systems-based approach combining material certification, infrastructure, and governance is required for genuine environmental sustainability. Novelty/Originality of this article: This review integrates evidence from polymer chemistry, environmental toxicology, and sustainability policy into a three-layer systems framework (material certification, waste infrastructure, and governance) for evaluating the genuine environmental benefit of biodegradable plastics, an integrative perspective that is largely absent from single-discipline treatments of the topic.

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Published

2026-07-31

How to Cite

Kakra, E. M., Abejoye, A., Dimeji, I. A., Lawal, O. oluwasegun, & Ogboh, R. (2026). The hidden costs of biodegradable plastics: Environmental persistence, microplastic toxicity, and implications for sustainable development. Asian Journal of Toxicology, Environmental, and Occupational Health, 4(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.61511/ajteoh.v4i1.2026.3953

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1: July (2026)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Ekow Mensah Kakra, Adeyemi Abejoye, Ishola Abdul Dimeji, Opeyemi oluwasegun Lawal, Rita Ogboh

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