The future of cardanol as small giant for biobased aromatic polymers and additives

•Cardanol is a renewable non-edible co-product of cashew nut industry.•This is an abundant renewable resource with unique structure.•Cardanol is gaining increased attention in both industrial and academic communities for the synthesis of additives and polymers.•Cardanol is particularly used as surfactant, plasticizer, epoxy or phenolic monomers.