# Recent Advances in Bio-Based Wood Protective Systems: A Comprehensive Review
## 6 Conclusions and Future Outlook  
In conclusion, the comprehensive exploration of natural compounds, biopolymers, and innovative materials for wood coatings underscores the industry's commitment to environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. The introductory overview of this paper highlighted the historical value of wood and its vulnerabilities to various challenges, motivating the search for protective measures. Thus, organic coatings have emerged as a response to these concerns, with a focus on harnessing nanoparticles, nanomaterials, and innovative pigments for enhanced durability and aesthetics. This review, therefore, deals with various issues relating to the use of bio-based materials for wood coatings, such as:  
* Embracing sustainability and holistic solutions: there is a noticeable move towards using bio-based materials and embracing circular economy principles. The inclusion of substances such as linseed oil, cellulose fibres, and pigments from wood demonstrates a strong commitment to being environmentally friendly. Protective measures extend across the coating mix, preservatives, bio-based fillers, and natural pigment dyes, highlighting both efficiency and sustainability in a holistic approach;
* Bio-based components' impact on coating durability: essential oils, vegetable oils, and bio-based polymers play a crucial role in creating environmentally friendly and long-lasting coating layers. These components provide protection and beneficial properties to wood surfaces. By incorporating bio-based elements into coatings, a harmonious blend is achieved between reduced hardness and increased durability, ensuring sustainable protection for wood;
* Wood preservation and eco-friendly alternatives: studying natural compounds, such as stilbenes, pyrolysis distillates, tannins, and caffeine, aligns with efforts to minimize environmental impact and presents promising avenues for preserving wood. These alternatives showcase remarkable antifungal and antibacterial properties, effectively meeting the standards of eco-friendly practices in wood preservation;
* Enhancing durability with bio-based fillers: biocarbon particles derived from hemp, extracts from olive leaves, lignin, and tannins demonstrate significant potential in boosting weather resilience and strengthening mechanical properties. Their use aligns closely with the objectives of the circular economy, emphasizing sustainability and efficient resource use;
* Innovative pigments for sustainable coatings: incorporating sustainable pigments and dyes sourced from natural and microbial origins introduces innovation while upholding protective qualities. Despite notable progress, the world of wood coatings grapples with persistent complexities. These include ensuring coating stability, addressing leaching risks, and targeting harmful microorganisms, biofilms, and wood-damaging pests while protecting non-target species. While aiming for high-performance coatings through intensive research, it is crucial to consider consumer preferences for economically feasible solutions. The introduction of nanotechnology raises valid health concerns about potential nanoparticle release from coatings on wood surfaces. To tackle these challenges, a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach is not just beneficial, but essential in enhancing wood durability. Coatings need to embody stability, efficiency, environmental responsibility, biological compatibility, inherent biodegradability, and practical cost-effectiveness. Through these integrated efforts, the evolution of wood coatings can align with sustainability and innovation principles. Conceptualization, M.C. ; investigation, M.C. and A.Z. ; data curation, M.C. and A.Z. ; writing--original draft preparation, M.C. and A.Z. ; writing--review and editing, M.C. and S.R. ; supervision, S.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This research received no external funding. Data Availability Statement: Data sharing not applicable.