Polymers for a Sustainable Future

Over the last century, polymers are everywhere we look, have transformed our daily lives, and gained global acceptance. From clothes wear, to utensils used by scientists around world in labs, current rate of activities standard living couldn't be maintained without plastics all shapes or forms. The majority consume everyday still obtained from fossil fuels rate, but also efficacy, with which these produced terms low waste production energy consumption is truly astonishing highlights power continuous refinement improvement extraction fractionation processes. In addition other factors, this efficiency, translates into costs, a high hurdle for bio-based, (bio)degradable, more sustainable polymer alternatives conquer market. Nevertheless, multitude start-ups several pilot full-sized plants been built solely dedicated bio-based bio-degradable on an industrial scale. These steps toward underpinned governments governing bodies emphasising need future. Whether development goals UN,[1] pledge carbon neutrality within next 20 years, as stated China New Zealand, amongst others, action plan circular economy put forward European Union,[2] provided guidelines along tight restrictions what future economies communities will look like. top-down regulations, changing perception public provides customer-based incentive companies provide solutions general public. All heavily impacted direction science over ten years five-fold increase papers concepts “polymer” “sustainability”. However, care must taken really constitutes polymer. “Sustainability” not absolute hard description rather exists continuum describing source starting materials, process, end-of-life issues, etc. Importantly, it always described comparison processes, whether established lab scale, viewed through lens life cycle analysis. Recent publications give insights how can achieved polymers.[3-5] While initial focus field was obtaining renewable building blocks efficient manner using catalyzed synthetic routes, has broadened constructing complex materials systems renewable/sustainable blocks, controlling their architecture closely, well looking at whole polymeric material. This special issue Macromolecular Rapid Communications tries glimpse “polymers future” could like shows that systemic change being addressed leading experts world. natural resources such lignin, cellulose, chitin. poorly soluble, abundant nature itself, difficult process transformation monomers real challenge. Based Yang, Heinze, Wang, co-workers created paper-based wearable electronics adhesion, reflectivity, conductivity comparable fossil-fuel based (2000499). communication Zhu, Shi, investigates use chitosan agarose hydrogels trigger actuation shape deformation water and/or heat actuators soft robotics applications (2000342). Further advanced explored Lu, Hallinan Jr., Chung, who up 35 wt% lignin solid electrolyte (2000428) while Baroncini, Stanzione III, compare soft- hardwood lithium-ion battery (2000477). Cellulose, most biopolymer world, features both filler nanocomposites work Pakdel, Dubé, (2000448), modified grafting-from approach, Kelley, Gramlich, (2000531), small fluorescent molecules biosensing applications, demonstrated Zhou, (2000497). A fundamental insight oxidative TEMPO-functionalisation given Jiang, Fan, (2000501). Cheng, Zhang, imidazolium-based ionic liquids modify cellulose acetate make membranes. membranes show drastically increased CO2 permeability promising gas separation (2000494). Another naturally resource, namely chitin, microspheres freeze-drying method method's effect microsphere morphology investigated Ying, (2000502). Silk fibroin another material issue. contribution Xiao, Pei, Ling, co-workers, understanding self-assembly silk nanofibrils guidance silk-based (2000435). advances catalytic valorisation biomass featured review Al-Naji, Antonietti, (2000485) Ma, Chen, Nang bioresource poly(urethanes) (2000492). At same time, Laprise, Kerton, Kozak, describe three-step synthesis preparing non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) fish waste, resource largely untapped date chemical potential (2000339). Overall NIPUs feature strongly alternative approach fully presented Filippi Meier attaching plant oil-based derivates thiol-ene click chemistry (2000440). NIPU-based appear Bourguignon, Detrembleur, (2000482) promise adhesive highlighted Gomez-Lopez, Sardon, (2000538). Akin highly controlled orientation amino acids proteins organic molecules, control syndiotacticity oftentimes lead improved mechanical, thermal properties compared atactic analogue. issue, isoselective lactide polymerisation reported Wan, He, Zhang (2000491) Magliozzi, Grau, Cramail, highlight tacticity poly(hydroxyurethanes) (2000533). Bexis, Coulombier, Dove, report ring-opening propargyl-functionalised cyclic carbonate yield versatile system telechelic block copolymer (2000378). thermally stable poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-lactic acid) Xiang, melt-spinning fibres (2000498). communication, pathway towards poly(thiocarbonates) Lewis acid/base pairs disulfide ethylene oxide, two low-cost bulk chemicals (2000472). degradable fiber reinforced epoxy vitrimer tensile strengths Liu, (2000458). reviews include recent biobased acrylates discuss respect commercial implementation Fouilloux Thomas (2000530). overview Wang Tao looks progress catalyst developments O-carboxyanhydrides polymerisations emphasis organocatalysts (2000535). Within above-mentioned Circular Economy, gaining importance interdisciplinary field. Indeed, issues implications plastic debris continues accumulate freshwater marine environments. Schyns Shaver outline main ways recycling common found streams avenues upcycle mechanical normally lower quality, property (2000415). Recyclability photoresins Voet, Loos, generation 3D-printing photo resins biodegradable, recyclable (2000475). summary, trajectory moved contemplating “sustainability” broader sense notion Economy. perspective, 12 Principles Green Chemistry[6] serve guide achieve polymers. qualitative very beneficial, analysis, E-factor,[7] quantitative metrics, indicates concept requires attention number facets. Only holistic cradle grave, concrete obtained, pushing new era. Philip B. V. Scholten studied University Warwick, UK, his master's degree 2015 under supervision Prof. Andrew P. Dove. He then undertook Ph.D. Dr. Christophe Detrembleur (Université de Liege, Belgium) Michael A. R. (Karlsruhe Institute Technology, Germany) where he novel copolymers reversible deactivation radical polymerization. joined Adolphe Merkle (Fribourg, Switzerland) 2019 post-doctoral researcher since June 2020 working Marie Curie Individual Fellowship “DECOMPOSE.” His research interests chemistries, stimuli-responsive, bio-inspired systems. Jie Cai full professor Wuhan University. received B.S (2001) (2006) (Prof. Lina Zhang's group). worked JSPS postdoctoral fellow Shigenori Kuga's group Tokyo. appointed associate (2009) (2012) College Chemistry Molecular Sciences (CCMS) biomacromolecules understand structure-function relationships, particular studies related “green” solvents chitin chitosan, self-assembly, biomaterials tissue engineering. Robert T. Mathers sustainability degradation oceans, components, predicting hydrophobicity partition coefficients (LogP) efforts, optimize physical properties, reduce waste. Rob Akron (2002) anionic polymerization Roderic Quirk. After Cornell Geoffrey Coates, Pennsylvania State Presently, Kensington campus. To expand background sabbatical Carnegie Mellon (2011-2012) Krzysztof Matyjaszewski tour included visits Dove Birmingham, Chimie ParisTech Karlsruhe Technology (KIT).