TEXTILES.ORG
Polyester and other plastic products could potentially be manufactured with nontoxic and sustainable BPA alternatives identified in a study by researchers in Sweden.
A team of chemists, data scientists, toxicologists and material experts at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University wanted to find safer alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA). The study paid particular attention to bisphenols that could be made from renewable resources.
They aligned their work with the European Commission’s Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework to put their results on track for regulatory approval and eventually industrial adoption. SSbD is a voluntary framework to guide the innovation process for safe chemicals and materials.
Of three bisphenols that were obtainable from renewable biomaterials, one of these compounds, bisguaiacol F (BGF), derived from lignin, was incorporated into a polyester matrix. The synthesized polyester demonstrated thermal stability and mechanical properties comparable to or better than BPA-based plastics.
Beginning with more than 170 potential bisphenols, the researchers combined computational screening, sustainable synthetic chemistry and lab toxicology testing to winnow down the candidates.
Further testing, including long-term toxicology and full life-cycle assessments, must be carried out before BGF-based materials can be brought to market. The study also notes that further work should look at material variations, recyclability, biodegradability and UV resistance to assess the sustainability of polyesters made of the compound.
The research was published in the journal Nature Sustainability Dec. 4, 2025.
Read Specialty Fabrics Review to follow our continuing coverage of polymer research in our Swatches section.
Advanced Textiles Association members receive the magazine for free, among other benefits.