Emerging Bio-Based Polymers from Lab to Market: Current Strategies, Market Dynamics and Research Trends

The increasing demand for green chemicals has led to a substantial expansion of the bio-based polymer market. Bio-based polymers are more flexible and adaptive, making them more appropriate for commercial applications, healthcare, and biotechnology. Despite challenges in polymer architectural control, biostability, and structural dynamics, functional biosynthetic polymers will have a significant impact in the future. Researchers are developing new methods to overcome these challenges, and the article comprehensively covers current strategies, market dynamics, and research trends of emerging bio-based polymers, as well as the most recent scientific breakthroughs. This review highlights the composition and usage of bio-based polymers, including polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoate, biopolyethylene, and polysuccinic acid succinate. 

The article examines a variety of bio-based polymers, focusing on their characteristics, production processes, and commercial uses. Furthermore, the process economics of conventional petroleum-based polymers were compared to the process economics of monomer and polymer synthesis. The authors emphasize that the benefits of simple formulations for the development of highly functional biosynthetic polymers include the potential challenges of using bio-based materials in a variety of applications, as well as the solutions and key industry players that may help bring these materials to market. The article concludes with a predicted position on future growth in the area, which is contingent on the ability to surpass sustainability limitations.