Rethinking crustacean shell waste valorization: from environmental burden to microbial platform for sustainable bioproducts

Abstract

Crustacean shell waste (CSW), generated annually at approximately 11.9 million tons, is predominantly managed through landfilling and incineration. This linear disposal imposes environmental burdens while undervaluing a renewable resource rich in chitin, proteins, and calcium carbonate. Current industrial chitin and chitosan production relies on energy- and chemical- intensive processes, suffers from inconsistent product quality, and recovers only a small fraction of the theoretical potential. This opinion advocates biological valorization, via microbial fermentation and enzymatic offers a technically feasible and environmentally superior alternative for sustainable chitin extraction and conversion. We analyze feasible biotransformation routes, key enabling technologies, and the bottlenecks limiting scale-up, and we highlight a paradigm shift from merely extracting chitin to using it as a fermentable, nitrogen-rich platform substrate for producing high-value chemicals. Integrating synthetic biology, bioprocess engineering, and lifecycle assessment could reposition CSW as a cornerstone feedstock of a sustainable bioeconomy. Such a transition not only addresses waste management challenges but also aligns marine byproduct utilization with circular economy principles and climate mitigation goals.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Crustacean shell waste / Chitin upcycling / Microbial conversion / Circular bioeconomy / Sustainable chemicals / Life cycle assessment

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Higher Education Press 2026