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Overview / Routes / Other bio-based polyesters

Aliphatic/semi-aromatic polyesters

Other bio-based polyesters

Bio-based PBS/PBSA, bio-content PBAT, isosorbide polyesters and chemically recyclable lactone polymers.

Scope: bio-PBS/PBSA, bio-content PBAT, isosorbide polyesters (PEIT), poly(alkylene furanoate) relatives, chemically recyclable lactones (for example from α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone).

What it is

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and its copolymers are biodegradable polyesters made from succinic acid and butanediol (Xu and Guo). Either monomer can come from fossil or bio-based routes, so the bio-based share is grade-specific.

PBAT is made by polycondensation of butanediol, adipic acid and terephthalic acid (Jian et al.). It is biodegradable; bio-based content depends on which monomers are bio-sourced.

Chemistry summary

Hong and Chen showed polymers from γ-butyrolactone that can be depolymerised back to monomer, a design principle for chemically recyclable polyesters.

monomer

Succinic acid

Diacid of PBS and PBSA; available from fermentation or fossil routes.

OC(=O)CCC(=O)O

PubChem CID 1110 · source

monomer

1,4-Butanediol

Diol of PBS and PBAT.

OCCCCO

PubChem CID 8064 · source

monomer

Adipic acid

Aliphatic diacid of PBAT and PBSA.

OC(=O)CCCCC(=O)O

PubChem CID 196 · source

monomer

Isosorbide

Rigid, sugar-derived bicyclic diol (1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-glucitol) for polycarbonates and polyesters.

O[C@@H]1CO[C@@H]2[C@@H](O)CO[C@H]12

PubChem CID 12597 · source

monomer

α-Methylene-γ-butyrolactone

Exo-methylene lactone studied as a monomer for chemically recyclable polymers.

C=C1CCOC1=O

PubChem CID 68352 · source

n
repeat unit

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)

Repeat unit of PBS. Hydrolysis gives 1,4-butanediol and succinic acid.

*OCCCCOC(=O)CCC(*)=O

verified via bdo + succinic · source

Drawn from SMILES with RDKit and verified against PubChem. Full structure library →

Synthesis and production

Step-growth polycondensation of diacids and diols (see Chemistry).

Property profile

Xu and Guo report a wide thermoplastic processing window for PBS, suitable for extrusion, injection moulding, thermoforming and film blowing.

Sourced property table (ND where no value is quoted) →

End-of-life profile

Each attribute is recorded separately and never inferred from another.

Bio-based originGrade-specific; depends on the origin of each monomer.
BiodegradabilityPBS and PBAT are described as biodegradable (Xu and Guo; Jian et al.). Environment matters (Haider et al.).
CompostabilityNot assessed here for specific grades.
RecyclabilityLactone-based designs aim at chemical recycling to monomer (Hong and Chen; Coates and Getzler).

Key players

None listed. Organisations are named here only when a checked development or cited source names them.

Typical applications
films, injection-moulded and thermoformed parts

Open challenges

  • Separating bio-based content claims from biodegradability claims.
  • Cost and scale of bio-succinic acid and bio-butanediol.

Cross-cutting: Bio-based content & claim accounting (C14 vs mass balance) · Cost per kg resin and per finished part · End of life & recyclability streams

Quoted support for this page (3)
  • production of the monomers succinic acid and butanediol [Xu 2010]
  • PBS has a wide temperature window for thermoplastic processing [Xu 2010]
  • PBAT has been commercialized by polycondensation reaction of butanediol (BDO), adipic acid (AA) and terephthalic acid (PTA) [Jian 2020]

Each quote is re-checked against the published abstract in CI.

Monthly track

October 2026 in progress · scanned through 2026-10-20

No checked developments.

Machine-triaged leads (11)
machine-triagedFormulation / application6 Oct 2026· Journal of Polymer Sciencejournal

Synthesis and Characterization of Bio‐Based Poly(Butylene Succinate‐Co‐Sebacate): A Sustainable Alternative to Petroleum‐Based Polyesters

Bio-based poly(butylene succinate-co-sebacate) copolyesters were made by melt polycondensation at varied succinic/sebacic ratios; the 20 mol% sebacic acid grade showed higher tensile strength and elongation than PBSA.
“PBSSe with 20 mol% of sebacic acid exhibits 37% higher tensile strength” (abstract)
doi:10.1002/pola.70361
machine-triagedNew chemistry12 Oct 2026· ChemSusChemjournal

Synthesis and Polymerization of a Lactone Building Block Derived From Cashew Nut Shells

Cardanol from cashew nut shells was converted to a pentadecylcaprolactone monomer and polymerized, giving a homopolymer and statistical copolyesters with caprolactone of reduced crystallinity.
“The biorenewable feedstock cardanol, a phenol compound substituted with an unsaturated C15 hydrocarbon chain” (abstract)
doi:10.1002/cssc.71014
machine-triagedNew route7 Oct 2026· ETA FlorencejournalEurope

From Agri-food Residues to High-performance Sustainable Polymers: The POLYMERS-5B Pathway Toward Circular Bioplastics

The POLYMERS-5B project reports pilot-scale lipase-catalysed polyesters from tomato and olive pomace with about 2 GPa modulus and Tg of at least 80 degrees Celsius.
“polyesters with an elastic modulus of approximately 2 GPa and a glass transition temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius” (abstract)
doi:10.5071/34theubce2026-idv.3.35
machine-triagedNew chemistry16 Oct 2026· Journal of Polymers and the Environmentjournal

DOE-Driven Synthesis of Bio-based Itaconate Polyester: A Solvent-Free and Catalyst-Free Approach

A bio-based poly(dodecamethylene-co-hexamethylene itaconate) prepolymer was synthesized by catalyst-free, solvent-free polycondensation and optimized with a Box-Behnken design for future UV-curable formulations.
“no other examples of the synthesis of such a binary polyester have been reported” (abstract)
doi:10.1007/s10924-026-03971-8
machine-triagedFormulation / application6 Oct 2026· Polymer Engineering & Sciencejournal

2,5‐Furandicarboxylic Acid‐Modified PBAT Copolyesters: Enhanced Mechanical Properties, Gas Barrier Performance, and UV Aging Resistance

A PBAT copolyester (PBAFT) was made by replacing part of the terephthalic acid with bio-based FDCA, reporting higher tensile strength and lower water vapour and oxygen permeability.
“PBAFT containing 10 mol% FDCA substitution exhibited a tensile strength of 32.5 MPa” (abstract)
doi:10.1002/pen.70915
machine-triagedNew route5 Oct 2026· Nature Communicationsjournal

Coordination ring-opening transamidation copolymerization of cyclic lactones and lactams towards circular and biodegradable poly(ester amide) adhesives

A titanium-catalysed coordination ring-opening transamidation copolymerization of caprolactone and caprolactam yielded poly(ester amide)s that recycle chemically and degrade in composting.
“coordination ring-opening transamidation copolymerization (CROTCP) mediated by a tetranuclear titanium catalyst” (abstract)
doi:10.1038/s41467-026-78220-6
machine-triagedNew chemistry1 Oct 2026· ChemRxivpreprint

On the enzymatic synthesis of ketone-containing oligomers and their processing into sustainable crosslinked materials

Lipase-catalysed solventless polymerisation of two ketone-containing diesters gave pre-polyesters that were crosslinked with Priamine into amorphous, thermally more stable networks.
“two ketone-containing pre-polyesters based on dimethyl 2-oxoglutarate (pDMOG) and dimethyl 1,3-acetonedicarboxylate (pDADC), were obtained via a solventless polymerization reaction” (abstract)
doi:10.26434/chemrxiv.15009729/v1
machine-triagedNew route2 Oct 2026· Polymer Engineering and Sciencejournal

Parameter Optimization of HDI ‐Mediated Chain Extension for High‐Performance PBAT : A Superior Alternative to Conventional Melt Polycondensation

Study optimizes HDI-mediated reactive melt-mixing chain extension of PBAT, reporting higher molecular weight and tensile strength than prolonged melt polycondensation while shortening reaction time.
“chain extension of PBAT with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) via reactive melt-mixing” (abstract)
doi:10.1002/pen.70927

September 2026

No checked developments.

Machine-triaged leads (8)
machine-triagedNew chemistry1 Sept 2026· Macromoleculesjournal

Fully Recyclable Triblock Polyester with Tunable Performance Constructed from Biobased δ-Valerolactones

Triblock polyesters with hard and soft segments were made by living ring-opening polymerization of biobased delta-valerolactones and depolymerized back to monomers for closed-loop recycling.
“chemically recyclable polyesters with varied mechanical properties from elastomers to thermoplastics” (abstract)
doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.6c00833
machine-triagedNew chemistry10 Sept 2026· American Chemical Society (ACS)preprint

Semicrystalline Polyesters Made by Stereoselective Polymerization of a Biobased Bicyclic Lactone

Stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of the biobased bicyclic lactone ODO yields isotactic and syndiotactic semicrystalline polyesters whose tacticity tunes ductility, strength, modulus and gas barrier.
“stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of the biobased bicyclic lactone” (abstract)
doi:10.26434/chemrxiv.15008674/v1
machine-triagedNew chemistry22 Sept 2026· ChemRxivpreprint

Suberin-Cutin inspired copolyester films as bio-based packaging materials

Suberin monomers from birch bark combined with cutin-type monomers gave cross-linked semi-crystalline copolyester films by melt polycondensation, with barrier properties reported comparable to PLA and PCL.
“we extracted suberin monomers from birch bark and combined them with two building-blocks monomers found in cutin” (abstract)
doi:10.26434/chemrxiv.15009249/v1
machine-triagedNew chemistry2 Sept 2026· ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineeringjournal

Ring-Opening Copolymerization Synthesis of Tailored Biobased Block Polyesters and Their Application as Biocompatible Additives within Tire Rubber Formulations

Biobased block polyesters were made by ring-opening copolymerisation of fatty-acid and terpenoid epoxides with phthalic anhydride, and proposed as biocompatible additives to replace harmful additives in tire rubber.
“Ring-Opening Copolymerization Synthesis of Tailored Biobased Block Polyesters” (title)
doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.6c08419
machine-triagedFormulation / application21 Sept 2026· Polymer Engineering and Sciencejournal

Tailoring Aliphatic–Aromatic PBAT Copolyesters for Melt‐Blown Biodegradable Nonwovens

Aliphatic–aromatic PBAT copolyesters with varied terephthalic-to-adipic acid ratios were pilot melt-blown into biodegradable nonwovens, with the 7:3 grade giving uniform 22.31 μm fibres.
“PBAT 7:3 achieved the optimal viscoelastic balance, yielding uniform fibers (22.31 μm)” (abstract)
doi:10.1002/pen.70874
machine-triagedFormulation / application3 Sept 2026· Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Compositesjournal

Birefringence characteristics of PET-based copolymers in an injection molded specimen

Birefringence and retardation of injection-molded PET-based copolyesters, including a biomass-derived isosorbide copolymer, were measured and related to composition and molding conditions.
“including a biomass-derived PET copolymer” (abstract)
doi:10.1177/07316844261484671
machine-triagedFormulation / application22 Sept 2026· Industrial Crops and Productsjournal

From straw waste to circular composites: A systematic comparison of untreated fillers in PBS, PBAT and their blends through performance, morphology and sustainability assessment

Wheat and rice straw fillers up to 30 wt% were compounded into maleic anhydride grafted PBS, PBAT and blends; stiffness increased while PBAT thermal stability declined at higher loadings.
“wheat straw (WS) and rice straw (RS) were added up to 30 wt% in maleic anhydride grafted polybutylene succinate (PBS)” (abstract)
doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.124421

References

  1. Xu J., Guo B. (2010). Poly(butylene succinate) and its copolymers: Research, development and industrialization. Biotechnology Journal. doi:10.1002/biot.201000136 review
  2. Jian J., Xiangbin Z., Xianbo H. (2020). An overview on synthesis, properties and applications of poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate)–PBAT. Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research. doi:10.1016/j.aiepr.2020.01.001 review
  3. Fenouillot F., Rousseau A., Colomines G. et al. (2010). Polymers from renewable 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols (isosorbide, isomannide and isoidide): A review. Progress in Polymer Science. doi:10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2009.10.001 review
  4. Hong M., Chen E.Y.X. (2016). Completely recyclable biopolymers with linear and cyclic topologies via ring-opening polymerization of γ-butyrolactone. Nature Chemistry. doi:10.1038/nchem.2391 research
  5. Coates G.W., Getzler Y.D.Y.L. (2020). Chemical recycling to monomer for an ideal, circular polymer economy. Nature Reviews Materials. doi:10.1038/s41578-020-0190-4 review
  6. Robert T., Friebel S. (2016). Itaconic acid – a versatile building block for renewable polyesters with enhanced functionality. Green Chemistry. doi:10.1039/C6GC00605A review
  7. Haider T.P., Völker C., Kramm J. et al. (2019). Plastics of the Future? The Impact of Biodegradable Polymers on the Environment and on Society. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. doi:10.1002/anie.201805766 review

Full literature list →