Recent Advances in Development of Waste-Based Polymer Materials: A Review

Limited petroleum sources, suitable law regulations, and higher awareness within society has caused sustainable development of manufacturing and recycling of polymer blends and composites to be gaining increasing attention. This work aims to report recent advances in the manufacturing of environmentally friendly and low-cost polymer materials based on post-production and post-consumer wastes. Sustainable development of three groups of materials: wood polymer composites, polyurethane foams, and rubber recycling products were comprehensively described. Special attention was focused on examples of industrially applicable technologies developed in Poland over the last five years. Moreover, current trends and limitations in the future green development of waste-based polymer materials were also discussed.

Automated summary

This work reports recent advances in the manufacturing of environmentally friendly and low-cost polymer materials based on post-production and post-consumer wastes. It comprehensively describes the sustainable development of wood polymer composites, polyurethane foams, and rubber recycling products. The examples of industrially applicable technologies developed in Poland over the last five years are highlighted, along with discussions on current trends and limitations in the future green development of waste-based polymer materials.