Exploring the sustainability of single use plastics in the biopharmaceuticals sector: a scoping review of challenges, opportunities, and impacts

Frontiers in Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: March 10, 2025

Single-use plastics (SUPs) are synonymous with the biopharmaceuticals sector, facilitating economies of scale, process efficiency, flexibility and sterility assurance, all a seemingly negligible environmental footprint. Yet, in ever-tightening regulation, mandated by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concern for large-scale industrial impacts, sustainability SUP consumption is increasingly being questioned. Whilst sector contributes to human welfare, its transition risk unlikely remain immune societal pressure more sustainable production. This article aims present scoping review apparent contradiction between sectoral adoption increasing importance circularity. The approach relies on three interwoven strands evidence: [i] intersectionality policy regulation biopharmaceuticals, [ii] single-use technology [iii] applications circular economy principles technology. It argued that, whilst life-cycle analysis (LCA) SUPs articulates an benefit vis-à-vis conventional technology, high energy intensity embodied carbon stainless steel renders comparison redundant. Moreover, there dearth evidence circularity, post-use, end-of-life considerations. Likewise, appears be little sector-wide appetite embryonic solutions enhancing such as biodegradables, offsets, reusability, waste-to-energy, ocean cleanup. Urgent mission-driven research required LCA, business model feasibility, materials innovation, regulatory frameworks, sectoral-wide impact. A design-driven inquisition their interactions, based symbiosis, could inform potential pathways.

Language: Английский

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Bioplastics from Food by-Products

IntechOpen eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 5, 2025

Bioplastics derived from food by-products are emerging as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, offering substantial environmental benefits due their renewable nature and biodegradability. This review explores recent advancements in the development of bioplastics using diverse by-products, including fruit peels, vegetable waste, lignocellulosic biomass. It examines methodologies, results, implications various studies; provides in-depth case studies successful applications; analyzes production methods concerning efficiency, cost, impact. Additionally, this addresses current market trends, regulatory challenges, opportunities, proposing future research directions rapidly evolving field. High-quality figures, tables, equations, models included provide detailed understanding lifecycle, impact, potential bioplastics. The findings highlight crucial role ongoing innovation, frameworks, consumer awareness promoting widespread adoption by-products.

Language: Английский

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Ecological packaging and creating sustainable solutions for biodegradable cellulose derivatives: A review

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 142348 - 142348

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Application of machine learning in technological forecasting

Procedia Computer Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 251, P. 23 - 30

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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