A copolymer resin composition provided by the process of the present invention
is of considerable strength and moldability and is produced by polymerization of
a monosaccharide or a polysaccharide that is derived from natural objects and has
a hydroxyl group, and a carboxyl group or a salt thereof with a compound having
a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group. The monosaccharide or the polysaccharide
serves as a polyfunctional central compound. The copolymer resin composition is
obtained through dehydration-polycondensation of (A) at least one selected from
the group consisting of a monosaccharide and a polysaccharide having a hydroxyl
group, and a carboxyl group or an ion-exchanged carboxyl group; and (B) at least
one selected from the group consisting of (b1) hydroxycarboxylic acid, (b2) polyhydroxycarboxylic
acid, (b3) a mixture of an aliphatic polyol and an aliphatic polybasic acid, and
(b4) an aliphatic polyester obtained by the reaction of an aliphatic polyol with
an aliphatic polybasic acid. Preferably, alginic acid is used to serve as the monosaccharide
or the polysaccharide having a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group.