Sustainable bioceramics, biopolymers, and composites for bone applications: From bench to production

In response to environmental challenges and primary resource scarcity, sustainable approaches that rely on recycling and reusing waste materials are becoming highly valuable and appealing options in modern society. These strategies have started being applied in biomaterials science, too, leading to the advent of new synergies between apparently distant fields. This review article aims to provide a systematic, up-to-date survey of the existing literature and available commercial products in this emerging area, with a focus on sustainable bioceramics and polymer-based composites for bone tissue engineering applications. The use of natural, inexpensive resources (e.g., waste from fishery and agri-food industries) and, in general, the implementation of green synthesis approaches is considered. Regulatory aspects and barriers for the widespread use of these sustainable products are also comprehensively discussed.