Life Cycle Assessment and Applications of Starch-Based Biopolymers Towards Net-Zero Carbon Bioeconomy

Biopolymers are molecules that resemble chains and are composed of repeating chemical units derived from carbon neutral, renewable resources. Considerable effort has been made to replace conventional polymers with biodegradable materials, thereby reducing the environmental impact and decreasing dependency on petrochemicals. The prominent sources of cellulose, starch, chitosan, polylactic acid, and polyhydroxyalkanoates are used for biopolymer production extracted from plants, animals, microbes, food waste, the organic portion of municipal garbage, and agricultural waste materials. In the field of biopolymers, starch-based biopolymers hold a prominent position as a substitute for plastics made from petrochemicals. In addition to these raw materials, starch can be obtained from a variety of aquatic plants, algae, roots, tubers, bulbs, yams, mango, jackfruit, and fruit wastes, as well as from millet, litchi, and plantains. These biopolymers find applications across various fields, notably in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, energy, textile, paper, agricultural, and food industries. The net-zero carbon bioeconomy and life cycle assessment, the specifics of the material lifetime, such as the length of the use phase, extraction techniques, and end-of-life management; accounting for biogenic carbon; and biodegradability, are taken into consideration for starch-based biopolymers. By reducing expenses and carbon emissions in biopolymer production, this tactic enhances overall sustainability and eventually moves the economy closer to a net-zero carbon future. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the significance of starch-derived biopolymers, their life cycle assessment, and the challenges involved in attaining a net-zero carbon bioeconomy.