Accumulation of plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is the predictable result of high demand for plastic functionalities, optimized production with economies of scale, and recalcitrance. Strategies are needed for end-of-life conversion of recalcitrant plastics into useful feedstocks and for transition to materials that are biodegradable, non-bioaccumulative, and non-toxic. Promising alternatives are the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a vast family of polymers amenable to decentralized production from renewable feedstocks. Establishment of a global-scale PHA-based industry will require identification of PHAs with tailored properties for use as 'drop-in' replacements for existing plastics; use of low-cost renewable/waste-derived feedstocks; high productivity cultures that may be genetically modified microorganisms or non-axenic mixed cultures maintained by selection pressures that favor high PHA-producing strains; and low-cost extraction/purification schemes.

中文翻译：

---

生物技术可以扭转塑料的潮流吗？

可预见的结果是，对水生生态系统的塑料污染的累积是对塑料功能性的高需求，具有规模经济的优化生产以及顽固性的可预见的结果。需要采取策略来将顽固性塑料的使用寿命终止，转化为有用的原料，并过渡到可生物降解，非生物蓄积性和无毒的材料。很有希望的替代品是聚羟基链烷酸酯（PHA），它是一大类聚合物，可从可再生原料中分散生产。建立全球规模的以PHA为基础的行业将需要鉴定具有定制特性的PHA，以用作现有塑料的“即插即用”替代品；使用低成本的可再生/废物原料；高生产力的培养物，可能是转基因微生物，也可能是通过有利于生产高PHA菌株的选择压力维持的非轴生混合培养物；以及低成本的提取/纯化方案。