<p>The accumulation of discarded plastics contributes significantly to white pollution and biomagnification, positioning biodegradable plastics as a promising alternative. Currently, bioplastics account for less than 1% of total plastic production, with global production capacity projected to increase from 2.47 million tonnes in 2024 to 5.73 million tonnes by 2029. Notably, 34% of these bioplastics consist of non-biodegradable polymers. Although bioplastics are designed for degradation, many do not completely decompose and may fragment into bio-microplastics (BMPs), thereby raising further environmental concerns. This study provides a comprehensive narrative analysis of the corpus of existing literature to evaluate research trends concerning the degradation, environmental distribution, and toxicological consequences of bioplastics. Data were collected from the Web of Science and Google Scholar databases covering the period from 2010 to 2025. The review addresses critical knowledge gaps by analyzing the degradation behavior of bioplastics (BP), techniques for the identification and quantification of BMPs, the ecotoxicological effects of BMPs across various environmental compartments, and the influence of co-occurring pollutants. Findings showed that bioplastics can pose a significant risk of microplastic contamination. Furthermore, BPs may exacerbate broader environmental issues, including food security, ozone depletion, and climate change. Despite the fact that bioplastics are frequently thought of as environmentally safe substitutes, this review highlights their present drawbacks and possible side effects. Therefore, further long-term research is essential to elucidate the biological fate of degradation intermediates and final products, as well as their interactions with natural ecosystems.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>