Sustainable Management of Agro-Industrial Waste through Bioplastics Production: A Review of Recent Developments

Abstract

The excessive generation of agro-industrial waste and the escalating global plastic pollution cause immense environmental and economic problems. This chapter summarizes the current status of global bioplastic production and focuses on agri-food waste streams as feedstock for polymerization and also on recent initiatives both private/industrial funded and by India supporting the development of using agro-waste for bioplastics. Key technologies, feedstocks, challenges, and future directions will be discussed. Case studies from India will be presented including a PLA plant, biocomposite companies that use agro-waste products, and government policy support mechanisms. The chapter will close by considering scalable opportunities and barriers, particularly in the context of India.