Natural Polymers and Additives

Dear Colleagues,

The EU is shifting towards a sustainable, circular economy, and this is clearly stated in several official communications where the European Commission has set the target of all plastic packaging being recyclable by 2030 and the target of zero emissions for 2050. However, the use of naturally occurring polymers, i.e., bio-based plastics/addtives and/or biodegradable polymers, and efficient plastic recycling are the two main pillars in this shift, since plastic pollution and the environmental risks related to the enormous volume of plastic production are some of the main problems identified by the EC.
This SI—Natural Polymers and Additives—is focused on polymer synthesis and extraction, polymer processing and characterization, LCA, and the end-of-life and waste management of these naturally occurring materials and additives. Polymer science and technology play a crucial role in shifting towards the production of sustainable materials and the implementation of low-emission processing, educating people to lead sustainable lives.

Prof. Dr. Nadka Tz. Dintcheva
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• biopolymer synthesis
• bioplastics
• biodegradable materials
• naturally occurring composites
• processing and technology
• natural additives
• sustainable applications
• life-cycle analysis
• gas emission
• waste management