Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polycaprolactone (PCL), and Chitosan: the Biodegradable Transition in Medical Waste Management

Abstract The COVID‐19 pandemic sharply increased medical waste, intensifying concerns about sustainability in healthcare. This paper evaluates biodegradable polymers—polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and chitosan—as substitutes for conventional plastics. PLA is effective for disposable products and sutures, PCL shows potential for implantables, and chitosan offers both antibacterial and degradable properties. While these materials provide clear advantages at end‐of‐life stages, upstream production remains energy‐intensive and costly: PLA and chitosan may be 80–100% more expensive than conventional plastics, while PCL can approach cost parity in certain applications. Lifecycle assessments highlight pretreatment and fermentation as the main contributors to environmental burdens. Adoption is further challenged by scalability, durability in medical contexts, strict regulatory requirements, and uneven waste‐management infrastructure between high‐ and low‐income countries. Substitution alone is therefore inadequate. Rebound effects—greater material use encouraged by perceptions of “green” safety—risk undermining gains unless carefully governed. We argue for an integrated transition combining material innovation with lifecycle governance, procurement standards, targeted fiscal incentives, and equitable investment in recycling infrastructure. Priorities include harmonized testing, supply chain transparency, and support for low‐ and middle‐income regions. With these measures, biodegradable materials could substantially reduce the healthcare sector’s plastic footprint while safeguarding safety, affordability, and global equity.