TABLE 1.
Terms, definitions, and examples of polymers associated with different types of plastics
| Term | Biodegradable polymersa | Polymers that are nonbiodegradable, resistant to degradation, or durableb | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biobased (biorefinery) | PHAs, PLA, polysaccharide-based, plastics (e.g., TPS), bio-polybutylene succinate | Bio-PE, bio-PP, bio-PET, bio-PUs, polyethylene furanoate | Derived from renewable resources (e.g., lignocellulose) |
| Fossil-based (traditional refinery) | PBAT, polyvinyl alcohol | PET, PP, PE, PS, PVC, PUs | Derived from fossil resources (e.g., oil) |
a
Polymers with enzymatically accessible backbones that can be cleaved into their respective oligomers/monomers.
b
Polymers with saturated C-C backbones or with other chemical bonds highly resistant to biocatalytic depolymerization.