UV-curable polyurethane (PU) coatings are widely applied to wooden and metallic surfaces because of their high efficiency and environmental friendliness [1-3]. However, a key raw material used in their preparation, namely polyols, is mostly produced from limited petroleum resources [4]. The development of bio-based UV-curable PU coatings therefore provides a "doubly-green solution" to the current resource and environmental problems facing the coatings industry. This paper is part 1 of a two-part contribution. The second part will appear in the January/February 2023 edition of the European Coatings Journal. ...