**Preface to "Polymer Biodegradation and Polymeric Biomass Valorization"**

Both plastics produced from petroleum and naturally occurring polymers such as cellulose or chitin, derived, in turn, from the anabolism of living organisms, are examples of compounds that find a very wide range of everyday use and used in industrial applications. However, the efficient waste management of synthetic polymers has become a huge environmental and economic problem, which best illustrates the ubiquity of microplastics in the environment. The management of waste polymeric biomass appears to be an easy task, but incineration and landfilling are methods that should be limited due to climate change and socio-political pressure. The best example of these trends is the waste hierarchy, determined by the European Union and EPA, in connection to which emphasis should be placed on maximal use of the waste product before it is finally taken out of circulation. The waste should become the raw material.

Biodegradation appears to be a very interesting approach to polymer management, which is well suited to current environmentally friendly expectations. Due to that, the aim of this Special Issue is to present the latest developments in the biodegradation of both synthetic and natural polymers and to provide examples of their valorization in the context of a circular economy.

Example topics include (but are not limited to) the following:


**Piotr Bulak** *Editor*
