Carbohydrate-based alternatives to traditional synthetic plastic microbeads: A critical review

This review examines carbohydrate-based alternatives to conventional plastic microbeads, which are widely used in cosmetics, household products, biomedical applications, and other industries but contribute to persistent microplastic pollution. The article evaluates a broad range of naturally derived polymers, including cellulose, cellulose acetate, chitin, chitosan, alginate, starch, pectin, and other carbohydrate-based materials, comparing their environmental impact, biodegradability, production methods, mechanical properties, and application potential.

Particular emphasis is placed on the need for renewable, biodegradable materials that can replace petroleum-based microbeads without compromising performance.

The review concludes that carbohydrate-based microbeads generally offer significant environmental advantages over conventional plastics, especially due to their renewable origins and improved biodegradability. Among the materials assessed, cellulose and cellulose acetate are identified as particularly promising because of their abundance, adaptability, tunable surface properties, wide application range, and ability to biodegrade more readily in natural environments. The findings highlight the growing importance of cellulose acetate in developing sustainable alternatives for personal care, filtration, biomedical, and specialty applications. At the same time, the authors emphasize that production methods, feedstock selection, and degradation behavior remain important areas for future research to ensure that next-generation microbeads deliver both environmental and functional benefits.

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