Poly(lactic) acid (PLA) is currently a most potential and popular polymeric material, which will play a key role in building of a sustainable bioeconomy. Knowledge of biodegradation of PLA is crucial for treating plastic wastes and easing the serious energy crisis. The biodegradability of PLA based on microorganisms (actinomycetes, bacteria, fungus) and biochemical processes of degradation have been advanced in recent years, but the high efficient methods of PLA biodegradation are still inadequately addressed. With the development of the modern molecular biological techniques, some studies have detected specific groups of microorganisms involved in the biodegradation process of PLA. Nevertheless, few studies were conducted to establish the simulated system based on aerobic biodegradation of PLA due to the lack of available information on process parameters. In this review, PLA is treated according to its synthesis mechanisms, applications, biochemical processes in degradation, degrading microorganisms and enzymes. In addition, the simulated system based on aerobic microorganism is also presented for acceleration of PLA degradation. •Biochemical processes of PLA degradation were analyzed for a better development of environmental biotechnology.•The main PLA-degrading microorganisms were classified.•Exploration of enzymes and their families involved in PLA degradation provided more information for the catalytic mechanism.•The simulated system of PLA biodegradation was proposed as a bridge between laboratory and engineering.