Polyurethanes, a major class of polymers conventionally derived from petroleum products, find applications in numerous sectors. Limited fossil resources, their extensive usage, large carbon footprint and alarming environmental issues motivated the research community worldwide in finding alternate and renewable routes for one of the key raw materials, polyols and isocyanate precursors. There are several reports available in the literature showing the techno-economic viability of bio-based polyols and hence polyurethanes. This article summarizes the synthesis of renewable polyols and polyurethanes thereof through utilization of various renewable sources such as vegetable oils, lingo-cellulosic biomass and other feedstock. The polyols obtained from different starting materials lead to variation in hydroxyl number and ultimately have a profound impact on the properties of polyurethanes. Hydroxyl groups are further classified based on their presence in polyols. Primary hydroxyl groups present in polyols hold the mechanical and thermal performance of final polyurethanes better. In this context, the recent advancements in increasing the primary hydroxyl groups in bio-based polyols through different chemical transformation has been focused on here. Moreover, the developments in the synthesis of polyurethane foam without the use of isocyanates have been considered as a green polymer. The ever-increasing demand in the market and the high potential of renewable sources will lead to further advancement in commercialization of bio-based polyurethanes.

聚氨酯是传统上源自石油产品的一大类聚合物，在许多领域都有应用。有限的化石资源、它们的广泛使用、巨大的碳足迹和令人担忧的环境问题促使全世界的研究界寻找一种关键原材料、多元醇和异氰酸酯前体的替代和可再生途径。文献中有几份报告显示了生物基多元醇和聚氨酯的技术经济可行性。本文总结了利用各种可再生资源，如植物油、木质纤维素生物质和其他原料合成可再生多元醇及其聚氨酯。从不同起始原料获得的多元醇会导致羟值发生变化，最终对聚氨酯的性能产生深远的影响。羟基根据它们在多元醇中的存在进一步分类。多元醇中的伯羟基可以更好地保持最终聚氨酯的机械和热性能。在此背景下，通过不同的化学转化增加生物基多元醇中伯羟基的最新进展已集中在此处。此外，在不使用异氰酸酯的情况下合成聚氨酯泡沫的发展被认为是一种绿色聚合物。市场不断增长的需求和可再生能源的巨大潜力将进一步推动生物基聚氨酯的商业化。