A simplified bibliometric mapping and analysis about sustainable polymers

Abstract

There is a worldwide trend in the search for sustainable and/or eco-friendly polymers that generate low environmental impacts, aiming to take advantage of waste and raw materials from renewable sources. Besides, there is a worldwide concern about the final disposal of solid waste since its incorrect final disposal is likely to cause serious socio-environmental problems. Thus, great efforts have been made to exchange raw materials from oil, a non-renewable natural resource, for other renewable sources.The panorama of the literature about sustainable/eco-friendly polymers is discussed in this work, by using bibliometric analysis and mapping based on the results of a search in the Scopus database. Given the importance of the analysis of the authors' keywords for the in deep knowledge of a research field, the analysis of the authors' keywords was focused on.Sustainable materials, mechanical properties, and cellulose are considered hotspots themes in the sustainable polymer research field. The thematic evolution also appoints to the importance of these themes, as well as geopolymer, natural polymers, and fibers, being considered future trends in the sustainable/eco-friendly polymers area.The present work is expected to be a helpful tool to researchers and entrepreneurs who cope with the subject, being a point of reference or, perhaps, an inspiration for future researches.