Recent Advances in Research on Biodegradable Polymers and Sustainable Composites

The use of conventional polymeric packaging materials obtained from non-renewable sources represents an important environmental impact and waste generation after their use. Biopolymers have received an increased interest lately due to more environmentally aware consumers, increased price of crude oil and global warming. These polymers are naturally occurring polymers that are found in all living organisms and they fulfill all the environmental concerns (renewable raw materials and relatively good biodegradability). As a result their use will have a less negative effect on our environment compared to petroleum based materials, but they show some limitations in terms of performance (thermal resistance, barrier and mechanical properties) as well as associated costs.