ABSTRACT
The environmental impact caused by plastic waste is nowadays one of the main problems of the world to solve. The use of biodegradable polymers instead of non-biodegradable ones represents a green alternative towards the reduction of these residues. However, the biodegradability of polymers should be defined and evaluated considering three points: i) polymer structure; ii) environmental conditions; and iii) the activity of available microorganisms. This chapter provides a general overview of the key aspects involved in polymer degradation and its correlation to some of the most used assays, analytical techniques, standards and certifications.
