The fabrication of biodegradable and recyclable bio-based plastic by complexing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and cationic polymeric ionic liquid (PILCl) assisted with KNO3 is offered to utilize plastics sustainably and mitigate serious threats to the environment. The CMC/PIL plastic film, formed via electrostatic interactions, exhibits exceptional mechanical properties that surpass those of most conventional plastics. It demonstrates a tensile strength of approximately 200 MPa and a Young's modulus of around 5.5GPa. Even after recycling and regeneration, they essentially retain the original mechanical characteristics with a tensile strength of about 190 MPa. These CMC/PIL plastic films can be processed into three-dimensional (3D) shapes assisted with water and their fundamental qualities maintain after numerous shaping. Besides, they possess excellent biodegradability and can finish biodegrading in a few hours with cellulase and within a few days when exposed to soil. This innovation provides a fresh and practical way to produce degradable plastics.

The market of epoxy resin-based adhesives is constantly growing in the automotive, electronics, and healthcare industries thanks to their unique features such as high bonding strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. In this work, alternative sustainable vitrimer adhesives, containing from 20 to 50 wt% of lignin microparticles, were prepared from epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) and a boronic ester dithiol crosslinker (DBEDT), in the absence of solvents and catalysts. The addition of unmodified commercial Kraft lignin to the composites directly influences their thermal and mechanical properties and determines their bonding capacity between several adherent substrates, also affecting the rewelding potential. The lignin-vitrimer composites and the corresponding neat vitrimer matrix exhibited values of lap shear strengths in the range of 9 to 17 MPa, when tested as adhesives with aluminum, stainless steel, and wood specimens, and good to excellent rewelding capability. The amount of lignin microparticles influences the balance between cohesive and adhesive forces during the separation of the adhered aluminum surfaces and the eventual joint failure. In the case of the composites with 20 wt% of lignin, lap shear strength remains constant even after four cycles of rebonding via compression molding, indicating that the best rewelding performance is associated with previous cohesive failure when the adhesive remains on both aluminum sheets' surfaces. In addition, the adhesion was preserved for 83 % of the initial value after 24 h immersed in water. Importantly, biodegradability in both soil and seawater was enhanced by the presence of the lignin filler. In summary, the simple preparation strategy of bio-based vitrimer composites coming from two natural sources could pave the way to green alternatives for industrial applications, such as epoxy-based adhesives.

The need to build a long-term or even permanent base is now a significant concern with the development of the exploration of extraterrestrial celestial bodies. Sulfur concrete was first proposed as a new building material in the 20th century. Recently, sulfur concrete has attracted much interest, as sulfur is considered one of the most accessible resources on the Moon and Mars, thanks to the in-situ resource utilization methodology. In addition, sulfur concrete is one of the most promising building materials for improving terrestrial sustainability or extraterrestrial exploration. So far, reviews have only focused on developing sulfur concrete and extraterrestrial building materials. This review paper summarizes the history of sulfur concrete development and different modified sulfur concretes. Previous research on extraterrestrial building materials is also reviewed. The unique advantage of sulfur concrete as an extraterrestrial material is justified, as no water is used during mixing. Lunar and Martian soil simulants are also examined as possible aggregate types. Finally, further improvements are proposed to broaden the application of sulfur concrete and the corresponding treatments. The possibility of recyclability and circularity is discussed from a sustainable development point of view. This review article provides readers with a detailed overview of sulfur concrete and its history, why it is more promising and accessible as an (extra)terrestrial building material, the challenges of its future application, and corresponding treatments to overcome the obstacles.