Review of the Effect of Bioresources Properties in Biomaterials Development and Applications

The increasing generation of residues from agricultural, municipal, industrial, forestry, aquaculture, and other biomass-derived streams presents considerable potential for the recovery of bioresources for advanced biomaterial production. Converting waste into valuable materials is critical for sustainable resource management and mitigating environmental impacts such as methane emissions from landfills. Bioresources from plant, animal, microbial, marine, and algal origins provide versatile feedstocks, whose physical and chemical properties—including moisture content, density, porosity, and elemental composition—determine suitability for applications such as biochar, biopolymers, hydrogels, and nanocomposites. High-moisture plant residues are suitable for biodegradable films and hydrogels, while dense, low-moisture materials such as coconut husks support durable composites and carbon-based products. Animal wastes, including bones, feathers, and offal, supply protein- and mineral-rich feedstocks for hydroxyapatite, scaffolds, and chitin-based materials, whereas marine and algal residues provide collagen, chitosan, and polysaccharides, and microbial biomass offers nutrient-rich substrates for biofertilisers, single-cell proteins, and polymers. Recent advances demonstrate that biowaste valorisation within a circular bioeconomy enables the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates, nanocellulose composites, biochar, activated carbon, hydroxyapatite, and functional materials such as electroactive and stimuli-responsive systems. Biowaste use is challenged by variable feedstocks, high energy needs, and regulatory limits. Using bioresource knowledge with advanced processing enables the development of high-performance biomaterials, minimises environmental impact, and fosters innovation within the circular bioeconomy.