Review Articles

Challenges associated with the recyclability and end-of-life management of plastics are leading to a search for more environmentally friendly alternatives. The amount of conventional plastic that is recycled represents a tiny percentage of what is made. Most is sent to landfills or simply accumulates in the environment, which presents a challenge due to the generation of micro- and nanoplastics. Next-generation bioplastics have emerged as an option in recent years. Polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactic acid, thermoplastic starch, lignocellulosic biocomposites, protein-based materials, seaweed, among others, can be regarded as promising alternatives to conventional plastics. These materials are innovative; some, such as polylactic acid and thermoplastic starch, are already established in the market, while others have recently gained ground in various sectors, including lignocellulosic biocomposites in the automotive industry and bioplastics based on marine algae for food packaging. However, this transition should not be limited to replacement. The study analyzes recent advances in next-generation bioplastics, including classification and potential applications. The study also explores key challenges and regulatory perspectives.

Round bamboo is a critical natural construction material in tropical and subtropical regions because of its high strength, light weight, excellent mechanical properties, and simplicity of access to resources. With the advancement of technology and changes in aesthetics, the design of round bamboo architecture has taken on different development directions, such as simplicity, practicality, and innovative design. The structural components and connection methods are approaching standardization, and the products’ applications are expanded beyond the confines of the home to include commercial spaces and other application scenarios. The current situation, problems, and development direction of round bamboo structures in terms of material production process, modification technology, and standardized processing are summarized in this study. Also discussed are advantages, structural characteristics, and development rules of round bamboo components as building materials, as well as the evolution and innovative development of connection methods. The purpose of this study is to provide references for the innovation and development of round bamboo.

Graphical Abstract

This paper attempts to provide a general characterization of the properties and applications of plant cellulose (PC) based on literature data regarding its sources, discovery, fractional composition and cell dimensions, the microphysical structure of the fibrous component, its content in wood and non-woody plants, functional properties, traditional uses, and selected contemporary opportunities to expand the use of this material in the production of new types of industrial products. This topic can be useful from systematic, informational, and practical perspectives for engineers involved in teaching plant cellulose technology, for researchers and practitioners searching for substitute materials as alternatives to synthetic polymers and fossil-fuel-derived chemicals, and for paper mills seeking opportunities to mitigate the effects of declining demand for printing papers through the development of other PC-based products. The issues discussed in this article may serve as a starting point for the development of an expanded version of this study, supplemented with additional PC properties and applications not identified by the author, and ultimately for the preparation of a book that would include a comprehensive discussion of specific PC applications.

Growing demand for environmentally sustainable wearable electronics is driving the development of high-performance electromechanical sensing materials from carbonized renewable resources. Despite rapid progress, key challenges remain in understanding how biomass carbonization pathways influence conductive network formation and electromechanical sensing performance. This review first analyzes the conversion of biomass feedstocks into conductive biocarbon through pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization, highlighting strategies for tuning hierarchical graphitic structure. Then, the review elucidates the electromechanical mechanisms governing strain sensing behavior in biocarbon composites, correlating microstructural evolution with key strain sensor metrics. By synthesizing recent advancements and identifying critical bottlenecks, this review aims to provide a roadmap for advancing next-generation, eco-friendly flexible biocarbon strain sensors from laboratory prototypes to practical applications.

This review considers published evidence supporting ways in which self-assembly and interdigitated structures that emerge during sheet formation contribute to mechanical strength and structural development in nanopaper and conventional paper-like sheets. Interdigitation is defined here as a form of three-dimensional connectivity within fibrous networks, including elements of parallel interaction, minor weaving, physical entanglement, and inter-diffusion among fibers, fibrils, and nano-scale cellulosic features of multiple length scales. Particular attention is given to out-of-plane fiber orientations and the persistence of three-dimensional connectivity during sheet formation, features that are not fully captured by idealized two-dimensional network models. The review considers mechanical, rheological, microscopic, and processing-related studies to assess how hydrodynamic conditions, flocculation, consolidation history, and drying influence the formation and effectiveness of interdigitated structures. The collected evidence suggests that interdigitation is an inherent feature of papermaking over a broad range of fiber and fibril dimensions, and that it can be strongly influenced by processing conditions.  In addition to highlighting the topic of interdigitation, this review also reveals a need for more detailed theoretical consideration, as well as focused experimental work.