We investigated the effectiveness of plant-based bio-additives – rhubarb, lingonberry, and blueberry (0.1–1%) – as natural UV absorbers in biodegradable polymers polylactide (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL). A novelty of this work is the direct use of plant-based raw materials as UV absorbers in polymers. We performed Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-Vis analysis of the bio-additives, determined the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) for the polymer samples, and evaluated their physicochemical properties (structural changes, colour, hardness, surface energy) after weathering (PLA) and thermo-oxidative (PCL) aging. Spectroscopic tests confirmed the presence of UV-A/UV-B-absorbing chromophores in the additives. Samples with 1% berries had excellent UV protection (UPF 40–50+), while PLA and PCL containing 1% rhubarb had lower UPF values (around 22), indicating good UV blocking properties. After aging, PLA-containing berries showed a significantly lower carbonyl index (CI), indicating reduced photodegradation. For PCL with lingonberry, this additive gave the greatest reduction in thermo-oxidative degradation (lowest CI). All plant additives increased material hardness by acting as nucleating agents; they increased the crystallinity of polyester, and aging further strengthened this effect. Bio-additives, especially berries, can increase the hardness and UV resistance of polymers and limit material aging. These polymer compositions are suitable for packaging materials.

In recent decades, numerous efforts have been dedicated to the investigation of eco-friendly non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) as alternatives to conventional polyurethanes (PUs). Since isocyanates are classified by the EU as hazardous and toxic compounds, NIPUs offer a promising route to mitigate isocyanate-related health risks as well as other environmental concerns associated with traditional PU synthesis. In the present study, we report the synthesis as well as the detailed structural and thermal characterization of a new series of fully biobased non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) based on aliphatic dicarboxylic acids of different chain lengths. The NIPUs were prepared via a two-step polyaddition reaction involving glycerol carbonate and diamine. Their synthesis enables a sustainable pathway to tailor NIPUs’ physicochemical properties via diacid structure control. Studies of their structure, thermal behavior and trends, morphological, and hydrolytic findings confirmed strong diacid chain length dependence on glass transition temperature (T_g ~13, 0, ‒5 and –23 °C), molecular weight, surface wettability, and enzymatic degradability. Short-chain diacids yielded NIPUs with rapid hydrolytic degradation, while their longer-chain analogs were hydrophobic and thermally stable. Contact angle measurements (~75–85°) also confirm these trends. The tunable properties position these materials among strong candidates for biomedical applications.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an eco-friendly biopolymer with outstanding structural and functional properties, offering promising applications in sustainable packaging and bio-based materials. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of producing BC via spontaneous fermentation, using grape pomace supplemented with sucrose as the sole carbon source, nutrient substrate, and microbial inoculum, without the addition of commercial strains or nitrogen supplements. Fermentation was conducted under static conditions, yielding biofilms with stable structural characteristics and BC production of up to 14.1 g/L, thereby confirming the efficiency of this low-cost, residue-based process. The films obtained exhibited well-organized polymeric networks, with thermal stability in the range of T_g ≈ 159–266 °C and mechanical resistance comparable to or higher than conventional biopolymers. Characterization confirmed reproducible chemical profiles, thermal stability, and measurable variation in mechanical performance, with a tensile strength ranging from 0.0001 to 105 MPa and an elongation at break of 15±5%. The process highlights a resource-efficient and sustainable pathway, adaptable to rural contexts and aligned with circular economic principles. While minor variations among replicates reflected the intrinsic variability of biological systems, mean values and standard deviations demonstrated reproducible physicochemical and mechanical properties. These findings demonstrate that BC derived from agro-industrial residues can be produced under simple, low-input conditions, opening opportunities for scalable valorization in functional and sustainable materials.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biopolymers, and it has demonstrated a huge potential for replacing some of the conventional plastics in certain application fields. However, due to a lack of other attributes such as antimicrobial properties and slow degradation rates, it is often blended with other polymers to impart these properties. Chitosan has desirable features including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility, and environmental friendliness. Thus, it is widely blended with PLA to generate materials that can be applied in various fields. In recent years, PLA/chitosan blend composites and nanocomposites have been produced to develop sustainable and ecofriendly materials that can be suitable in active food packaging, water treatment, air filtration, and biomedical applications. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in the development of PLA/chitosan blend composites and nanocomposites for various applications. The processing strategies, mechanical and thermal properties, together with utilization in biomedical, air filtration, water treatment, and packaging applications, are provided.

Biocomposites have recently received more attention because of raising environmental awareness and the drive toward sustainable technologies. The most common biodegradable polymer is poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which has an excellent balance of physical and rheological properties, but there is some limit to its usage. PLA properties can be improved by adding different types of fibers or fillers that come from agricultural waste. In this study, corn cob and lavender stem were used to reinforce PLA without any coupling agent, and the properties of the composites were investigated. The melt flow rate (MFR) values decreased with the corn cob content and increased with the addition of lavender stem. Mechanical tests showed that the tensile and flexural modulus of the composites increased and the strengths decreased with the reinforcement material content. The rigidness of PLA slightly decreased with the addition of fillers. There was no significant effect on the thermal properties. The unremarkable improvement of the reinforcement was due to the lack of appropriate adhesion of the two phases. The structure of the compounds was found to be homogenous on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The incorporation of corn cob and lavender stem can reduce the production cost of materials.