Bio-based polyesters: Recent progress and future prospects

Abstract The development of sustainable and environmentally friendly polymer materials is among the most pressing contemporary challenges for polymer science and engineering. Bio-based polyesters have attracted increased interest as a platform to address this need due to their tunable properties and wide range of application areas. In recent years, advanced by more mature technologies of preparing bio-based monomers, a large number of bio-based polyesters are emerging in the fast-growing bio-based industry. This review focuses on the recent advances in the field of bio-based polyesters, and systematically introduces and classifies bio-based polyesters, mainly including bio-based aliphatic polyesters and bio-based aromatic polyesters. Recent developments of bio-based polyester elastomers are being reviewed and opportunities for their application are being discussed. Finally, this review presents the common challenges faced by bio-based polyesters and the prospects for future development.