Dear Colleagues,

Biodegradable polymers have been discussed in the literature for about thirty years now, but their way to a common use is still uncertain. The term biodegradation, in its core, refers to the decomposition of a given material through the action of enzymes or a chemical reaction associated with living organisms such as bacteria and/or fungi. Recently, the meaning has been extended to include photodegradation, oxidation, and hydrolysis due to environmental factors. It is sanctioned because such processes often accompany biotic processes of genuine biodegradation. In this context, there are currently distinguished classes of so-called degradable polymers that are capable of environmental degradation, not necessarily mediated by living organisms and biodegradable polymers that are strictly decomposed due to biotic reactions. Despite some qualitative differences, the majority of issues are common for both types of polymers. In this Special Issue, we would like to provide a common ground for sharing scientific experience concerning both strictly biodegradable and just degradable polymers. Thanks to the open access platform of this journal, we can count on a wider audience of readers of the fruits of our research effort. Contributions to this issue, both in the form of original research or review articles, may cover all aspects of biodegradable polymers their synthesis, chemical modification, processing, and of course application-related issues. Particularly welcome are all multidisciplinary studies offering new methodologies or insights.

Prof. Dr. Jacek Nowaczyk
Guest Editor

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• Biodegradable polymers
• Environmental degradation
• Degradable polymers
• Polymer synthesis
• Polymer properties
• Polymer stability
• Polymer processing