The transition from petrochemical plastics to renewable bio-based polyesters is central to reducing carbon emissions, mitigating plastic pollution, and advancing circular economy goals in the packaging and printing sectors. This review summarizes recent progress in bio-based polyester systems derived from carbohydrate-, lignin-, and oil-based monomer platforms, with particular emphasis on polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyethylene furanoate (PEF), thiophene-based aliphatic–aromatic copolyesters, and related materials tailored for functional packaging applications. We first outline the main bio-based monomer classes and synthetic strategies, including melt polycondensation, transesterification, and ring-opening polymerization, highlighting how monomer structure and processing routes control molecular architecture. We then discuss structure–property relationships, focusing on thermal stability, mechanical performance, barrier properties, and biodegradability, and provide quantitative comparisons between polyethylene terephthalate (PET), PEF, and representative thiophene-containing copolyesters in the context of packaging performance requirements such as gas barrier thresholds, heat resistance, and mechanical robustness. Particular attention is given to the design of copolyesters that balance rigidity and flexibility, enabling tunable stiffness and elongation while maintaining compostability or enzyme-mediated degradability. Finally, we examine established and emerging applications in food and cosmetic packaging, printing substrates, and 3D-printed packaging prototypes, and identify key challenges related to feedstock sustainability, cost, regulatory compliance, and end-of-life management. By linking monomer and molecular design to functional performance and application demands, this review aims to guide the development of next-generation bio-based polyesters for sustainable packaging and printing.

Keywords: renewable bio-based polyesters, bio-based monomer platforms, structure–property relationships, barrier packaging, printing substrates, 3D printing, biodegradability