Sustainability Meets Functionality: Green Design Approaches to Cellulose-Based Materials

Cellulose has gained significant attention as a sustainable resource due to its abundance, renewability, and biodegradability, making it a promising alternative to nonbiodegradable materials. Various cellulose-based materials (CBMs) have been engineered to improve the properties of natural cellulose. However, achieving full sustainability of CBMs remains challenging, primarily on account of the intensive pretreatment and fabrication processes involved. Therefore, this review highlights recent advances in balancing functionality and sustainability in CBMs. The first section examines the key parameters and mechanisms that influence the mechanical, thermal, barrier, and optical properties of CBMs, alongside their promising applications. Additionally, this review offers a comprehensive discussion on the sustainability of CBMs, focusing on (nano)cellulose extraction from renewable sources using green solvents, eco-friendly and scalable fabrication processes, and sustainable end-of-life strategies such as biodegradation and recycling. Overall, this review offers guidelines for designing functional and green CBMs, contributing to the broader goal of a circular, zero-waste society.