White Biotechnology Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global White Biotechnology Market is projected to expand from USD 262.54 Billion in 2025 to USD 449.84 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.39%. This sector involves utilizing biological systems, such as enzymes and microorganisms, to produce biobased goods ranging from chemicals and materials to biofuels. Key factors driving this market include the rising demand for sustainable industrial practices and stringent environmental regulations designed to decrease dependence on fossil fuels. Highlighting the scale of the industry, European Bioplastics reported that global bioplastics production capacity reached approximately 2.47 million tonnes in 2024.

A significant obstacle hindering the broader growth of the white biotechnology sector is the elevated production cost relative to conventional petrochemical processes. This financial discrepancy often creates a barrier to entry for businesses attempting to adopt greener technologies and restricts the scalability of biobased solutions in price-sensitive markets. Consequently, the economic disadvantage compared to established methods remains a critical challenge for widespread adoption.

Market Drivers

Government incentives and subsidies for renewable chemical production serve as a major catalyst for the white biotechnology market by alleviating the financial risks associated with expanding bio-based infrastructure. Mechanisms such as grants and loan guarantees are crucial for bridging the gap between laboratory research and commercial-scale manufacturing, a stage where high capital costs often impede progress. By de-risking these investments, governments are strengthening domestic bioeconomy supply chains and accelerating the shift away from petrochemical reliance. For instance, BioMADE announced in October 2024, in a press release titled 'BioMADE Announces $26.9 Million Invested in 17 Projects', that it allocated funds to support the scaling of domestic bioindustrial manufacturing innovations, enabling companies to build pilot facilities and optimize fermentation processes.

Simultaneously, advancements in synthetic biology and enzyme engineering are transforming the market by improving the efficiency and yield of microbial cell factories. Through AI-driven optimization and precise genetic reprogramming, researchers can design microorganisms to convert feedstocks into high-value chemicals with remarkable specificity, significantly reducing unit costs compared to traditional extraction methods. This technological maturation is driving rapid commercial adoption across various industries, from household care to agriculture. Highlighting this momentum, Novonesis reported in its February 2025 'Company Announcement no. 3' an 8% organic sales growth for 2024, underscoring strong industrial uptake. Furthermore, the White House noted in 2024 that federal policies have spurred a total of $46 billion in public and private biomanufacturing investments since the initiative began.

Market Challenges

The high cost of production relative to established petrochemical methods constitutes a major structural barrier for the white biotechnology market. Bio-based manufacturing processes generally require substantial capital for advanced fermentation technologies, purification systems, and specialized feedstock supply chains, all of which increase operational expenses. Unlike the petrochemical industry, which benefits from decades of optimized infrastructure and large economies of scale, white biotechnology firms often face higher unit costs that make their end products less competitive in price-sensitive global markets.

This economic disparity directly limits the scalability of biobased solutions, particularly in sectors with thin profit margins like industrial materials and commodity chemicals. Manufacturers are often hesitant to fully transition to greener alternatives when price premiums threaten profitability, effectively slowing the rate of market penetration. According to the World Bioenergy Association, global ethanol output reached 118 billion liters in 2024, a figure that, while significant, emphasizes the continued difficulty in achieving the massive volumes required to fully displace fossil-based incumbents due to these persistent cost constraints.

Market Trends

The rise of enzymatic solutions for plastic recycling and upcycling marks a pivotal shift in the white biotechnology market, overcoming mechanical limitations to enable infinite material circularity. Advanced enzymatic processes break down complex plastics such as PET and nylon into their virgin-grade monomers, permitting their reintroduction into manufacturing cycles without performance degradation. This capability meets the critical industry need for high-quality recycled content while reducing environmental pollution. Reflecting the commercial momentum of this technology, Samsara Eco announced in June 2024, in the release 'Samsara Eco secures $100M in Series A+ funding to help end plastic waste', that it raised roughly US$65 million to accelerate the deployment of its enzymatic recycling capabilities and build new facilities in Southeast Asia.

Concurrently, the market is moving toward non-food biomass and waste-based feedstocks, thereby decoupling chemical production from the food supply chain. Manufacturers are increasingly using agricultural residues and industrial off-gases as primary inputs, which lowers carbon footprints and avoids the volatility of commodity crop prices. This transition is enabled by gas fermentation technologies that transform carbon emissions into valuable intermediates like sustainable fuels and ethanol. Illustrating the growing economic viability of these waste-to-value pathways, LanzaTech reported in its August 2024 'Second-Quarter 2024 Financial Results' a 35% year-over-year revenue increase to $17.4 million, driven largely by the expansion of its carbon recycling and biorefining operations.

Key Players Profiled in the White Biotechnology Market

• Novozymes A/S
• Kaneka Corporation
• AngelYeast Co., Ltd.
• Koninklijke DSM N.V.
• Akzo Nobel N.V.
• BASF SE
• Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
• Mitsubishi Corporation
• DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
• Amyris, Inc.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global White Biotechnology Market has been segmented into the following categories:

White Biotechnology Market, by Product:

• Biofuels
• Biochemicals
• Biopolymers

White Biotechnology Market, by Application:

• Bioenergy
• Food & feed Additives
• Pharmaceutical Ingredients
• Personal Care & Household Products
• Others

White Biotechnology Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global White Biotechnology Market.

Available Customization

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• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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