This collection of 33 papers overviews current European activities in the field of biopolymers-the application of polymers from renewable resources. The contributors review biopolymer synthesis, modification, technology, material testing, and analytical methods. Topics include potato starch based resilient thermoplastic foams, biomedical applications, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production by activated sludge, fatty esterification of plant properties, a comparison of two test systems for measuring the fermentability of biodegradable materials, and the role of life cycle assessment for biodegradable bags.