Disclosed are polymers that include components produced from renewable resources and methods for forming the disclosed polymers. The polymers include the reactive intermediates that in turn include components derived from, for example, lactide or sorbitol. The reactive intermediates can be polymerized with each other as well as with more traditional resins to form polymeric networks. In one embodiment, the disclosed intermediates can be utilized in forming vinyl ester resins. In particular, the vinyl ester-styrene resins and thermoset networks formed therefrom including the disclosed intermediates can include lower styrene content than previously known vinyl ester-styrene resins, and can exhibit physical characteristics such as glass transition temperature and flexural strength properties equal to previously known vinyl ester-styrene resins that include a higher styrene content.