A chitosan-latex binder comprising chitosan and latex binder in a weight ratio of chitosan to latex binder of from about 1:10 to about 1:15,000. A method of making a chitosan-latex binder, the method comprising (a) contacting chitosan with an acidic solution to form a chitosan solution, and (b) contacting at least a portion of the chitosan solution with a latex binder to form the chitosan-latex binder, wherein the chitosan-latex binder is characterized by a chitosan to latex binder weight ratio of from about 1:10 to about 1:15,000.