As-polymerized poly(L-lactide), (PLLA), has a much higher impact strength than after compression moulding. Several routes have been explored to further increase the impact strength of nascent PLLA. First results on the preparation of composites with carbon fibres, the copolymerization with trimethylene carbonate and epsilon-caprolactone, the block copolymerization with rubbers and the plasticization with ethyl acetate indicate possibilities to prepare much more impact resistant as-polymerized PLLA materials.