Plastics are exceptionally versatile synthetic material that have emerged as crucial substance of human life. It touches and impacts various facets of our everyday activities. However, due to excessive usage, low-level waste management, and recalcitrant nature its accumulation results into serious environmental issues. It is estimated that global plastic waste is expected to reach 1.7 billion metric tons by 2060. There are various ways plastic can be degraded in the environment, including photodegradation, thermo-oxidative degradation, biodegradation, etc. Among all, the biodegradation process is considered the most eco-friendly, a natural process in which living organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and some invertebrates, demonstrate the capability to utilise plastic as a source of carbon and nitrogen. Many research studies had pointed out the capability of invertebrates, especially those belonging to class Insecta, to play major role in the degradation of plastics. Various insect species, including mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio molitor), super worms (larvae of Zophobas atratus) and greater wax moth (larvae of Galleria mellonella) has been reported to degrade plastics. This chapter aims to explore the possible ways of plastic degradation and access the feasibility of biodegradation by using the potent organisms. The organisms belonging to the class Insecta secrete some enzymes in their saliva, which, together with their gut microbiome, play a major role in plastic degradation that is further explored in the following sections.

Keywords: Plastics, Biodegradation, Insect-mediated degradation, Pollution, Solid waste, Gut microbiome