Styrene and its natural analogues: accumulation and sustainable production methods

Styrene, also known as vinyl benzene, is a colourless, highly volatile petrochemical that serves as a key monomer in the production of polystyrene and styrene-butadiene rubber. Its industrial synthesis via the alkylation of benzene with ethylene relies on fossil fuels, requiring high temperatures and toxic catalysts that contribute to environmental degradation and climate change. Conversely, several microorganisms and plants naturally synthesise styrene, revealing a promising biosynthetic route. Styrene and its analogues have attracted growing interest for various applications. In foods, styrene can migrate from packaging and be synthesised by microorganisms. Although the European Food Safety Authority has expressed no concern about the current precautionary migration limit in food contact materials of 40 μg kg^-1 food, styrene migration remains a potentially critical environmental issue. Biosynthesis and microbial production of styrene and its analogues could be a solution for sustainable industrial development, as it operates efficiently under mild temperature and pressure conditions, enabling scalable synthesis while significantly reducing carbon emissions. This review analyses the literature on the accumulation of styrene and its analogues in plants and foods, evaluates possible solutions for microbial production, and considers significance and perspectives for the food industry. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.