ABSTRACT
As a result of a growing awareness of the interconnectivity of global environmental factors, principles of sustainability, industrial ecology, ecoefficiency, and green chemistry and engineering are being integrated into the development of the next generation of materials, products, and processes.1-7 The depletion of petroleum resources coupled with increasing environmental regulations are acting synergistically to provide the impetus for new materials and products that are compatible with the environment and independent of fossil fuels. Composite materials, especially “green composites,” fit well into this new paradigm shift. Simply stated, biobased materials include industrial products for durable goods applications, made from renewable agricultural and forestry feed stocks, including wood, agricultural waste, grasses and natural plant fibers composed of carbohydrates such as sugars and starch, lignin and cellulose, as well as vegetable oils and proteins. Producing chemical products and new materials from renewable resources is not a new idea. Most of the chemical products and materials came from renewable resources until the early part of the 20th century.1 The success and tremendous growth of the petrochemical industry in the 20th century, however, slowed the growth of biobased products. Environmental as well as economic factors are now driving the trend toward greater utilization of biobased polymers and materials.2-5 The challenge to scientists and engineers is to develop the technology needed to make the biobased materials revolution a reality.
