Development of low-cost, value-added bio-materials from technical lignins is essential in terms of complete utilization of woody biomass components (biorefining). A simply designed chemical modification may provide technical lignins with some unique properties: thermal fusibility, thermal moldability, amphiphilicity, and miscibility with synthetic polymers. Here, the fundamental characteristics of technical lignins are first overviewed. Second, recent progress in chemical modification of technical lignins for industrial application is reviewed. Finally, newly developed lignin-containing materials with functionality are discussed. © 2011 American Chemical Society.