iii. Medical industry

Starch based biocomposites can be utilized as an effective raw material due to their benefits such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxic, decent mechanical properties and degradation as needed.

Their usage in bone tissue engineering has been studied [22]. Structural framework support and degradation from the area of application is fastly offered by starch based biodegradable bone cements. Due to binning with bioactive particles, bone growth occurs at the bone cement interface and some amount resides because of polymer degradation. Bone tissue engineering scaffold involves the usage of these polymers. In drug delivery applications, starch based biopolymers are used. After drug depletion, this device does not have to be removed surgically. The starch based hydrogels or microspheres are used in different biomedical applications because of their novel properties like hydrophilicity, penetrability, biodegradability that mimics biological structures to some extent. Starch based biocomposites are of particular interest when it comes to biomedical applications [7, 11, 17].

#### **4.1 A shift towards greener future**

There is a lot of progress happening in the current field of research and development. Due to extensive usage of petroleum products, petroleum resources are getting exhausted and this also affects the environment and water bodies due to accumulation of plastics [7]. This is a huge concern as it affects the survival of human beings and animals. Because of these limited petroleum based resources, there is an urgent need to switch over to produce biodegradable alternatives. Biodegradable plastics are being produced to replace the synthetic polymers due to excessive usage of non-renewable polymer resources. Plants and crops can be used as suitable resources that can effectively replace the existing petroleum based products [11]. Biocomposites which are biopolymers reinforced with natural or biofibers can be utilized instead of synthetic composites such as glass fiber. Scientists are eyeing different approaches by merging biofibers like sisal, hemp, flax etc. with polymer matrix to produce biocomposites [11].

Composites are anisotropic in nature according to their structure. A matrix component (resin) is usually mixed with natural fibers obtained from plant based sources or cellulose to form biocomposites. Wood based fibers and non-wood fibers such as hardwood, softwood, jute, kenaf etc. are used as biofibres. The biocomposite's main constituent is the biofiber and it is obtained from tree, plant, or shrub sources [3]. The structure of biocomposites looks and functions similarly to living materials during the process and also enhances the strength properties of the matrix being used, thereby providing biocompatibility, for instance in forming scaffolds in bone tissue engineering. Structure and service environment are two important factors that determine the biodegradability rate in biopolymers. Natural/ biofiber composites are suitable candidates as a potential replacement to the synthetic composites especially in various industries such as automotive, packaging, construction, and consumer products. It can also be used as an additive for thermoplastics. Additional investigations involve studying biological-inorganic interfaces to merge biological and inorganic materials while emphasizing on the design, production, and classification of novel amalgams [31]. Starch and cellulose are the most suitable renewable resources to create bioplastics. The cheapest source of biodegradable polymer in the marketplace today is starch and has applications in non-food industries as well. Cellulose plastics can be made by using cellulose from plant sources as an alternative to petroleum feed stocks [3, 7]. Vegetable oils have immense potential as a raw material to create biodegradable plastics, for example: plant oils and fats of sunflower, walnut, canola, sesame etc. Biocomposites created through biofibers and plant based bioplastics could be utilized in rigid packing, building, and transportation applications [3].

To manufacture products like decking, fencing, siding, window and door profiles etc., green composites are utilized. Some of the benefits obtained when biocomposites are utilized as construction materials are their low-cost, light in weight, eco-friendly, durability, and biorenewable [11].
