Due to its excellent performance, polyurethane emulsion is widely used in painting, protection and protection in construction, leather, metal anti-corrosion and other fields. Most of the existing polyurethane emulsions are petroleum-based products, and out of the need for sustainable development, with the rapid development of bio-based raw materials and large-scale commercialization, bio-based polyurethane emulsions have achieved rapid development. In this paper, the bio-based raw materials and additives for the synthesis of polyurethane emulsions, including bio-based isocyanates, polyols, chain extenders and other modified raw materials, analyze the new progress of lignin-based, vegetable oil-based, unnatural monomer-based and other bio-based polyurethane emulsions, point out the main problems faced by bio-based polyurethane emulsions, including insufficient raw material supply, high cost and insufficient product performance, and look forward to the development prospects of bio-based polyurethane emulsions in solvent-free, high bio-based content and multi-functional products.