A review with 20 refs. (including Author's 6 works) covering technological, environmental and economical aspects of potential applications of polylactide, a biodegradable biomedical polymer and a high-tonnage thermoplastic produced from renewable raw materials, polycondensation of 2-hydroxypropanoic (lactic) acid and a lactide ring-opening polymerization, mechanical and thermal properties, hydrolytic and biological degradation pathways and applications of polylactide-based materials.