A method of making an aliphatic polyester prepolymer, comprising: reacting, alone or in combination with other reactants, a diol with at least a first diacid (or a diester of said first diacid) to produce an aliphatic polyester prepolymer. The first diacid is preferably a trans-beta-hydromuconic acid (HMA). In some embodiments, the diol contains at least one ether linkage. In some embodiments the diol is further reacted with at a second diacid, or a diester of said second diacid, wherein said second diacid is different from said first diacid. Prepolymers produced from such processes and articles formed therefrom are also described.