Danielle Cristine Mota Ferreira, Camila Rodrigues Carneiro, José Roberto Miranda Júnior, Jane Sélia dos Reis Coimbra, Franciele Maria Pelissari, Eduardo Basílio de Oliveira
Biopolymer-based packaging has been widely promoted as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. However, biodegradability claims are often supported by incomplete assessments that prioritize disintegration or weight loss over actual mineralization, neglecting the ecotoxicological impacts of handling intermediates and waste. This review provides a critical and integrative analysis of current methodologies used to assess the biodegradation and environmental safety of biopolymer-based materials in different environments. The ecotoxicological discussion focuses on phytotoxicity as a sensitive indicator of environmental safety, while microbial processes are considered complementarily due to their central role in biodegradation. The review further discusses how environmental variations and polymer composition influence handling kinetics and toxicity results, highlighting the need for harmonized protocols that reflect real-world environmental conditions. Future perspectives highlight the integration of laboratory and field research, the application of advanced analytical and predictive tools (omics, sensors, artificial intelligence), and the proposal of a conceptual framework for "effective environmental degradability," coupling mineralization parameters with ecotoxicological metrics. Overall, this work presents a comprehensive framework that connects biodegradation tests, phytotoxicity assessment, and regulatory interpretation, contributing to a more realistic understanding of the environmental fate and sustainability of biopolymer-based packaging.