Biodegradable polymers

This document discusses biodegradable polymers. It defines biodegradable polymers as plastics capable of being decomposed by microorganisms into carbon dioxide and water. The four major commercially available biodegradable polymers are starch-based polymers, poly lactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters. These polymers are often synthesized through condensation reactions, ring opening polymerization, or with metal catalysts. Biodegradable polymers have applications in medicine due to their biocompatibility and ability to degrade at controlled rates, as well as in packaging to reduce waste.