The key measurement tool to assess a product’s environmental
impact is LCA. Through LCA it is possible to account
for all of the environmental impacts associated with
a product, covering all stages in a product’s life, from the
extraction of resources to waste disposal. However, using
renewable feedstock does not guarantee that a plastic is
environmentally friendly over its entire life cycle. The sustainability
benefits of using renewable feedstock may not
be sufficient if the material cannot be recycled. To study
the recyclability of the polymeric materials including bioplastics
and their derivatives, it is a well-tried practice to
simulate the mechanical recycling by doing multiple extrusions
and to find the durability or service life by accelerated
thermal and hydrothermal ageing. These methods
make it possible to assess the effects of thermal, hydrothermal
and thermomechanical degradation [19,20]. The
current review will present the research findings on the
recyclability of bioplastics, their blends and thermoplastic
biocomposites. The strengths and weaknesses of materials
and applied recycling methods, as well as the potential
challenges and opportunities for future improvements,
are also presented