Natural Fibers for Sustainable Products and Systems: Applications, Properties, and Circularity
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: natural fibers; biocomposites; sustainable product design; circular economy; low-carbon manufacturing; life cycle assessment (LCA); techno-economic analysis; fiber–matrix compatibilization; nonwoven technology; additive manufacturing (3D printing)
Interests: natural fibers; biocomposites; additive manufacturing (FDM, ADAM); wire drawing; hydrodynamic/pressure lubrication; tribology; surface engineering; sol–gel coatings; dimensional and surface metrology; process optimization (DOE, ANOVA)
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The growing need for environmentally responsible materials has positioned natural fibers as key enablers of sustainable development in manufacturing, construction, and consumer industries. This Special Issue will focus on recent advances in the utilization of natural fibers and biocomposites for sustainable product design, circular economy integration, and low-carbon industrial transformation. It aims to explore how natural fibers—derived from agricultural, forestry, and livestock by-products—can be efficiently processed, characterized, and applied across diverse sectors to replace conventional, petroleum-based materials.
The Special Issue welcomes contributions addressing three major dimensions: applications and performance, properties and processing, and sustainability and circularity. Applications and performance include functional demonstrations of natural fiber systems in construction (e.g., acoustic and thermal insulation, fire resistance), mobility and transportation (e.g., lightweight interiors), and packaging or consumer goods emphasizing comfort, durability, and energy efficiency. Properties and processing concern the physical, mechanical, thermal, and acoustic characterization of natural fibers; compatibilization techniques; and novel manufacturing methods such as compounding, extrusion, nonwoven technology, and additive manufacturing. Sustainability and circularity encompass life-cycle assessment (LCA), carbon footprint reduction, techno-economic evaluation, and supply-chain optimization. Contributions exploring strategies for valorizing agro-livestock residues, promoting reuse, recyclability, and biodegradation/compostability, and aligning with regulatory and policy frameworks are especially encouraged.
By bridging materials science, engineering design, and environmental analysis, this Special Issue aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform that connects academia, industry, and policymakers. The ultimate goal is to highlight how natural fibers and biocomposite technologies can drive innovation toward climate-neutral, resource-efficient, and circular production systems, contributing directly to several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and industry innovation (SDG 9).
Prof. Dr. Guillermo Guerrero-Vacas
Guest Editor Assistant
Prof. Dr. Óscar Rodríguez-Alabanda
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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Keywords
- natural fibers
- biocomposites
- sustainable product design
- circular economy
- low-carbon manufacturing
- life cycle assessment (LCA)
- techno-economic analysis
- fiber–matrix compatibilization
- nonwoven technology
- additive manufacturing (3D printing)
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