Introduction Plastic is considered one of the most significant inventions of the twentieth century. Lightweight, inexpensive, durable, and versatile, it has become an essential material used across nearly every industry, from healthcare and transportation to packaging and manufacturing. However, these very advantages have also made plastic one of the world’s greatest environmental challenges. The mass production of plastic and the excessive use of single-use products have resulted in millions of tons of plastic waste entering nature, rivers, and oceans every