
vii
Preface
Global warming, rising environmental awareness, waste management issues, dwindling
fossil resources, and rising oil prices are some of the reasons why green materials
obtained from renewable resources are increasingly being promoted for sustainable
development. Various kinds of renewable green materials, such as starchy and cel-
lulosic polymers including natural bers, vegetable oils, wood bark, cotton, wool,
and silk, have been used for thousands of years for food, furniture, and clothing.
However, it is only in the past two decades they have experienced a renaissance as
one of the most feasible alternatives to synthetic polymers ...