Excessive utilization of synthetic plastics has led to a major detrimental impact on the environment. Plastic pollution and accumulation in water bodies have particularly threatened the survival of marine life. Plastic pollution can be prevented by using biopolymers that are eco-friendly and can be naturally produced by certain living organisms. The biopolymers have numerous environmental advantages over synthetic plastics, such as biodegradability and biocompatibility. In comparison to plants and other microbial systems, bacteria can accumulate a high amount of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). However, the major stumbling block in the production of bacterial PHAs is its low cost-effectiveness due to costs associated with fermentaion and down-streaming process. In consideration with the above properties, opportunities and challeges associated with bacterial PHAs, this review focuses on structural diversity of PHAs, biosynthesis mechanism in bacteria, its biodegradation, life cycle analysis, and environmental impact of bioplastic production. It further enumerates the advanced tools and techniques for bacterial PHA production, along with various factors affecting the commercialization of bioplastics. Extraction methods, down-streaming process, and biomedical applications of PHAs are also discussed. Finally, the opportunities and challenges in the commercialization of bacterial PHAs along with future scenario and environmental sustainability are presented for the purpose of fostering sustainable development.

合成塑料的过度利用已导致对环境的重大不利影响。塑料污染和水体中的积累特别威胁了海洋生物的生存。通过使用生态友好的生物聚合物可以预防塑料污染，这些生物聚合物可以由某些活生物体自然产生。与合成塑料相比，生物聚合物具有许多环境优势，例如生物降解性和生物相容性。与植物和其他微生物系统相比，细菌会积聚大量的聚羟基链烷酸酯（PHA）。然而，由于与发酵和下游工艺相关的成本，细菌PHA生产中的主要绊脚石是其低的成本效益。考虑到上述特性，与细菌PHAs相关的机遇和挑战，本文综述了PHAs的结构多样性，细菌的生物合成机制，其生物降解，生命周期分析以及生物塑料生产的环境影响。它进一步列举了用于细菌PHA生产的先进工具和技术，以及影响生物塑料商业化的各种因素。还讨论了PHAs的提取方法，下游工艺和生物医学应用。最后，为了促进可持续发展，提出了细菌PHA商业化的机遇与挑战，以及未来的前景和环境的可持续性。和生物塑料生产的环境影响。它进一步列举了用于细菌PHA生产的先进工具和技术，以及影响生物塑料商业化的各种因素。还讨论了PHAs的提取方法，下游工艺和生物医学应用。最后，为了促进可持续发展，提出了细菌PHA商业化的机遇与挑战，以及未来的前景和环境的可持续性。和生物塑料生产的环境影响。它进一步列举了用于细菌PHA生产的先进工具和技术，以及影响生物塑料商业化的各种因素。还讨论了PHAs的提取方法，下游工艺和生物医学应用。最后，为了促进可持续发展，提出了细菌PHA商业化的机遇与挑战，以及未来的前景和环境的可持续性。