Call For Papers: Sustainable Polymer Materials

The global demand for polymeric materials continues to rise, driven by their versatility, durability, and wide-ranging applications across a range of industries. However, this growth has come at a significant environmental cost, with traditional polymers contributing to persistent pollution, resource depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions. In response to these challenges, the field of sustainable polymer materials is a critical area of research and innovation, aiming to reconcile material performance with environmental responsibility.

This Special Issue from ACS Materials Letters and ACS Macro Letters brings together cutting-edge research and perspectives on the development, characterization, and application of sustainable polymer materials. Contributions will also explore the integration of circular economy principles and the design of polymers with end-of-life considerations.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

Bio-Based and Renewable Polymers

• Development of polymers from renewable feedstocks
• Advances in bioplastics
• Functionalization of natural polymers for advanced applications

Green Polymer Synthesis and Processing

• Solvent-free and low-energy polymerization techniques
• Use of green catalysts and reagents
• Sustainable processing technologies

Polymer Recycling and Circular Economy

• Mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic recycling of polymers
• Upcycling strategies for plastic waste
• Design for recyclability and closed-loop systems

Functional Sustainable Polymers

• Smart and responsive bio-based polymers
• Sustainable polymers for packaging, electronics, and biomedical applications
• High-performance green composites and nanocomposites

Emerging Technologies and Future Directions

• AI and machine learning in sustainable polymer design
• 3D printing with sustainable polymers
• Innovations in polymer degradation

Organizing Editor

Prof. Francesco Stellacci, Associate Editor, ACS Materials Letters
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland

Prof. Stuart Rowan, Editor-in-Chief, ACS Macro Letters
University of Chicago, United States

Submission Information

We welcome submissions for this Special Issue through March 31, 2026. For more information on submission requirements, please visit the journals' Author Guidelines pages:

• ACS Materials Letters Author Guidelines
• ACS Macro Letters Author Guidelines

Accepted manuscripts for consideration in this Special Issue will include Letters, Perspectives, Reviews, and Viewpoints. Papers accepted for publication for this Special Issue will be available ASAP (as soon as publishable) online. After all submissions have been published, they will then be compiled online on a dedicated landing page to form the Special Issue. Manuscripts submitted for consideration will undergo the full rigorous peer review process expected from ACS journals.

Open Access: There are diverse open access options for publications in American Chemical Society journals. Please visit our Open Science Resource Center for more information.

How to Submit

• Log in to the ACS Publishing Center.
• Select the "Journals" tab.
• Choose ACS Materials Letters or ACS Macro Letters
• Click "Submit."
• Select your manuscript type, and, under "Special Issue Selection," choose “Sustainable Polymer Materials."

If you have any general questions regarding submission to this Special Issue, please contact Prof. Francesco Stellacci (stellacci-office@materialslett.acs.org) or Dr. Graham Smeddle (managing.editor@macrolett.acs.org).