Plant Fibers as Polymer Reinforcement: Evolution of Selection Criteria

The use of natural fibers as reinforcement in composite materials is growing in different industrial sectors, thanks to their excellent physicochemical properties, environmental reasons, health neutrality, and the European Council Directives on the reuse, recycling, and valorization of components and materials. This introductory chapter focus on the evolution of the selection criteria for these natural products and the different arguments. This chapter introduces a list of scientific research activities and presents detailed results.