Microorganisms depolymerize plastics by releasing free radicals and enzymes that break polymers into smaller components like oligomers, dimers, and monomers. These monomers are essential for microbial growth and can be taken up by cells for mineralization, converting into biomass and energy (CO2 and H2O in aerobic or CO2, H2O, and CH4 in anaerobic conditions). The degradation process begins with microbial colonization on plastic surfaces, leading to the enzymatic breakdown in hydrolysis. Extracellular enzymes, such as hydrolases, facilitate the hydrolytic cleavage of the polymer chains. However, conventional weight loss measurements do not adequately indicate polyethene (PE) biodegradation; hence, research must focus on demonstrating PE biodegradation without additives and utilizing 13C-polyethylene to track the production of labeled metabolites over time.