Natural Polymers: Paving the Way for Sustainable Materials

The use of polymeric materials from renewable resources has a long history, with naturally occurring polymers being among the first materials used by men. In the 19th century, natural materials, such as casein, natural rubber, and cellulose, were modified to obtain useful polymeric materials. Over the past few decades, the production and application of synthetic polymers have seen an almost exponential increase. However, concerns regarding depletion of fossil resources, disposal and related issues, as well as government policies, have led to a continuously growing interest in the development of sustainable, safe, and environmentally friendly plastics from renewable resources.