TABLE OF CONTENTS This Chapter shows that chemistry and biology are both involved in the research effort to identify innovative materials for many applications in which a sustainable management of resources requires a diversification of technological options. Still many questions remain open to discussion, related to testing methods, performances and economic sustainability.
It is a fact that, in the last few decades, an enormous amount of industrial attempts to produce and commercialise biodegradable polymers, blends and composites has been attempted. Most of them are listed in Table 3.3. Some of the products shown are still alive, some survive, some are already dead. However, their existence testifies that diversification is necessary to create a possible and better future for mankind, and research efforts are still necessary to rationalise the different options.
