Impacts of Biodegradable Polymers on Soil Microbial Communities. Soil microbiome

Biodegradable polymers (biopolymers) are considered sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics, however the biodegradability of different biopolymers can vary in soil, which is where much of the global plastic waste ultimately accumulates. Furthermore, biopolymers can also influence soil microbial composition during the biodegradation process, potentially impacting ecosystems. Here, we directly compared the impacts of four major biodegradable polymers - poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and polylactic acid (PLA) - on soil microbial communities during the biodegradation process.