ABSTRACT
The quest for sustainable biodegradable and bio-based materials is ever increasing due to their versatile properties and also their ability to serve as potential alternatives to their synthetic counterparts. The major types of bio-based materials of commercial importance can be derived majorly from plant, animal, and microbial sources through physical, chemical, or biological extraction methods. Despite their potential applications, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, these bio-based polymers still face hurdles in competing with conventional plastics. The major factors contributing to this involve the production and extraction cost. In recent years, the integration of waste valorization with biopolymer production and the development of eco-friendly green extraction protocols with minimum usage of chemicals were visualized as efficient strategies for the sustainable production of biopolymers. This study summarizes the important biodegradable and bio-based materials of commercial importance along with their production methods and application in diverse sectors.
