Recent advances in biobased materials and value‐added chemicals

Abstract

Biomass feedstocks are established as a key resource and a viable alternative for an economy less dependent on fossil inputs. This review offers an examination exemplified by fresh references covering strategies to reach a sustainable conversion of biomass to emerging chemicals and materials. Biobased chemicals lead to reduced climate change impacts compared with their fossil‐based counterparts. There is a broad range of products that can be targeted for biobased production, and it is important to select both the feedstocks and the target chemicals, which have a positive environmental impact and opportunity of commercial success. From the perspective of polymer science, we summarize emerging polymers that can be derived from biomass with promising properties. Furthermore, as challenges in the field of emerging biobased materials and chemicals are driven both by performance constraints and economic factors, we also examine recent progress in catalytic and biochemical process towards successful end products.