Bio-based materials are a concept that has emerged in recent years. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s definition[1], they generally refer to products composed primarily of one or more substances derived from biological sources. Many common materials, such as paper, wood, and leather, can all be classified as bio-based materials. The key focus of this concept lies in the origin of the carbon structural units rather than their ultimate fate at the end of their life cycle.

In the industrial sector, bio-based materials typically refer to a wide range of modern materials that have undergone extensive processing. Through various methods—such as chemical synthesis or biosynthesis—biomass components (including lignin, cellulose, starch, polysaccharides, and vegetable oils) are transformed into value-added products, such as bio-based plastics, bio-based fibers, sugar-engineered products, bio-based rubber, and biomass thermoplastic materials. Bio-based materials are considered environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based materials. In recent years, an increasing number of novel bio-based materials have emerged, and exploration of their application scenarios is gradually gaining momentum.

Currently, most commercially available polyester materials—such as polyethylene terephthalate/polyester (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), and polycarbonate (PC)—typically derive their monomer raw materials directly from fossil carbon-based feedstocks. Research predicts that by 2050, polymer production will account for 20% of global fossil fuel consumption [2]. As petroleum resources become increasingly scarce, the heavy reliance on fossil fuels is at odds with the principles of sustainable development. Therefore, the rational utilization of biomass resources—obtaining polyester monomers and their potential substitutes through biological and chemical means—has emerged as one viable solution to this challenge.

Bio-based polymer materials are also one of the key development directions in the field of bio-based materials. Their production can be achieved either by directly extracting polymers from biomass and modifying them into biomass-based polymer products, or by breaking down or extracting monomers from biomass, modifying them—or leaving them unmodified—and then polymerizing them to obtain the final polymer product. There are many types of bio-based polymer materials; this article focuses primarily on bio-based polyester materials.

Figure 1 shows an example of a polymer derived from biomass. The structure illustrated here is for illustrative purposes only and does not fully capture the complexity and diversity of structures found in nature. Biomass can be further compounded through synthetic transformations, and the repeating units of the polymer may vary slightly depending on the specific polymerization strategy employed [3].

As an important alternative to conventional petroleum-based materials in the context of carbon neutrality, bio-based materials are driven by multiple factors, including policies, technological advancements, and market demand. Combining global carbon neutrality goals, technological progress, and industry trends, the following is an analysis of industry development trends for bio-based materials in 2025, along with a selection and detailed analysis of the five hottest materials:

I. Development Trends in the Bio-based Materials Industry in 2025

Policy-driven acceleration

National “plastic bans” and carbon neutrality policies—such as the EU’s SUP Directive and China’s 14th Five-Year Plan for Bioeconomy Development—are driving the substitution of bio-based materials for conventional plastics.

Carbon tariffs—such as the EU’s CBAM—are compelling companies to adopt low-carbon materials, highlighting the carbon-footprint advantages of bio-based materials.

Technological innovation reduces costs.

Breakthroughs in synthetic biology and enzyme-catalysis technologies are boosting production efficiency and reducing the costs of materials such as PLA and PHA.

The large-scale production of bio-based monomers (such as bio-based PDO and FDCA) is driving downstream applications.

Expanded Diversified Application Scenarios

Increased penetration in fields such as packaging (food and express delivery), textiles (bio-based polyester fibers), automotive (lightweight materials), and healthcare (biodegradable implants).

High-performance bio-based materials (with high-temperature resistance and high mechanical strength) to replace engineering plastics.

Industry Chain Integration and Influx of Capital

Traditional petrochemical companies (BASF, DuPont) are collaborating with biotechnology firms (Ginkgo Bioworks, KBI Biologics) to establish a presence in the bioeconomy.

Investment enthusiasm for synthetic biology companies in the capital market remains strong (global financing related to this sector exceeded $5 billion in 2023).

II. The Five Most Popular Bio-based Materials and Their Advantages in 2025

1. Polylactic acid (PLA)

At this stage, polylactic acid (PLA) is the most commercially successful type of bio-based material and also one of the most mainstream biodegradable plastic products available today. A structural example is shown in Figure 3.

▲ Figure 3: Example of Polylactic Acid Structure

PLA is a polymer produced via a polymerization reaction using lactic acid (LA), which is primarily derived from biological fermentation. Tracing further upstream, currently LA is mainly obtained through corn fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis. Given that corn is a food resource, the industry is also exploring the use of straw or agricultural waste as alternative feedstocks to replace corn. Thus, PLA is entirely derived from biological sources, and its production process is completely pollution-free, making it an ideal bio-based material. Another remarkable feature of PLA is its biodegradability: after use, PLA can be composted and, under conditions of temperatures above 55°C, in the presence of abundant oxygen and microbial activity, it degrades into carbon dioxide and water, thereby completing the natural cycle of matter without leaving any environmental impact. For this reason, PLA is also considered an ideal green polymer material.

The production process of PLA, from LA to the final polymer, currently relies primarily on chemical synthesis methods, which can be broadly categorized into two types: polycondensation and ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide. However, the former method struggles to produce high-molecular-weight PLA; thus, ROP technology has become the industry’s mainstream approach. In recent years, biosynthesis of PLA—incorporating enzyme catalysis and microbial production—has also been actively explored, though it remains at the research stage. Notably, in a 2022 paper published by Researcher Tao Fei from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, cyanobacterial cells were used as host cells. By combining systematic metabolic engineering with high-density cultivation strategies, the efficiency of PLA synthesis in these cyanobacterial cell factories was increased by approximately 270-fold, enabling the direct synthesis of PLA from carbon dioxide as a feedstock [6]. This breakthrough has opened up a new technological pathway for industrial PLA production based on non-grain feedstocks.

Advantage:

Completely biodegradable, with carbon emissions 50%-70% lower than those of conventional plastics;

Its processing performance is comparable to PET, making it suitable for food packaging, 3D printing, and textile fibers.

Representative enterprise:

Global: NatureWorks (U.S.), Total Corbion (Netherlands);

China: Haizheng Biopharm, Fengyuan Biopharm.

2. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

PHA is a general term for polyhydroxyalkanoates, intracellular products of secondary microbial metabolism. These compounds can mimic the functions of many of the best-selling petrochemical plastics and are used in a variety of applications, including packaging and medical polymers. Moreover, PHA is biodegradable in soil, freshwater, and marine environments, making it highly environmentally friendly. According to reports, PHA bottles can fully degrade within 1.5 to 3.5 years in marine environments—a remarkable environmental performance when compared to PET, which hardly degrades at all in natural settings [7].

PHA is a typical product of synthetic biology. Natural microorganisms can produce various types of PHA from a given substrate, and through systems biology and metabolic engineering approaches, microorganisms can be engineered to synthesize specific PHAs. Currently, over 200 different types of PHA are known. Another research direction focuses on using extremophiles under low-sterility or non-sterile conditions to produce PHA, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the biological process [8].

Although there are numerous PHA products available, only a few have been extensively studied. Figure 4 shows the chemical structures of five PHA products that have already achieved commercial applications: P(3HB), also known as PHB; P(3HB-co-3HV), also known as PHBV; P(3HB-co-4HB), also known as P34HB; P(4HB), also known as P4HB; and P(3HB-co-3HHx), also known as PHBHHx. PHB and PHBV represent the earlier-generation products. They exhibit relatively high strength but poorer toughness and a narrower processing window, making them suitable for applications such as injection molding and fiber production. In contrast, P34HB and PHBV are composed of two monomers, with a highly flexible ratio between these monomers, allowing for adjustable strength and toughness and improved processability. As a result, they can be used in a wide range of applications—including blow molding, cast film extrusion, injection molding, and fiber production—and currently represent the two most dominant product categories on the market.

Figure 4: Chemical structures of different PHAs: (a) P(3HB); (b) P(3HB-co-3HV); (c) P(3HB-co-4HB); (d) P(4HB); (e) P(3HB-co-3HHx). The asterisk (*) indicates the chiral center of the PHA structural unit.

Advantage:

It exhibits extremely strong degradation capability in marine environments and leaves no microplastic residues.

High biocompatibility, suitable for medical sutures and drug carriers.

Representative enterprise:

Global: Danimer Scientific (U.S.), RWDC Industries (Singapore);

China: Blue Crystal Microorganisms, Weigou Workshop.

3. Bio-based polyamide (Bio-PA)

Bio-based polyamides are a class of polymer materials synthesized from renewable biomass feedstocks—such as castor oil, cellulose, and microbial fermentation products—that can serve as substitutes for conventional petroleum-based polyamides (e.g., PA6 and PA66). These feedstocks include vegetable oils, natural amino acids, sugars, and other compounds. For example, castor oil is one of the key raw materials used in the production of bio-based polyamides; through a series of chemical transformations, castor oil can be converted into monomers suitable for polyamide synthesis. Additionally, sugar substances extracted from crops such as corn and wheat can also be transformed into appropriate monomers via fermentation and other processes, enabling the synthesis of bio-based polyamides.

Bio-based polyamides exhibit excellent mechanical properties; their tensile strength, flexural strength, and other key indicators are comparable to those of conventional petroleum-based polyamides, enabling them to meet the stringent material strength requirements in numerous applications. At the same time, these bio-based polyamides demonstrate a certain degree of thermal resistance, allowing them to maintain stable performance even under higher-temperature conditions. Moreover, bio-based polyamides possess outstanding wear resistance and chemical corrosion resistance, making them suitable for use in a wide range of challenging environments. Some bio-based polyamides are also biodegradable, meaning they can gradually decompose in natural environments, thereby reducing environmental pollution and aligning with the principles of sustainable development.

Advantage:

High-temperature resistant and impact-resistant, it can replace petroleum-based nylon.

Applied to lightweight automotive components and housings for electronic and electrical appliances.

Representative enterprise:

Global: BASF (Germany), Arkema (France);

China: Kexi Bio (a leader in long-chain dicarboxylic acid technology) and Huafeng Group.

4. Cellulose-based materials

Advantage:

The raw materials are widely sourced (wood, agricultural waste);

High strength, capable of being made into transparent films (as a replacement for PE films), and composite materials.

Representative enterprise:

Global: Eastman (U.S.), Stora Enso (Finland);

China: China National Textile and Apparel Council Research Institute, Shandong Yingke.

5. Bio-based rubber (such as bio-based EPDM)

Bio-based rubbers can be categorized into two types: natural rubber and bio-based synthetic rubber. The latter can further be divided into bio-based conventional synthetic rubber and novel bio-based synthetic rubber. Currently, the cost of bio-based rubber products is somewhat higher than that of petroleum-based rubbers. As the development of bio-based rubber accelerates and it receives increasing attention, we can soon expect to see bio-based rubber-related products appearing in the market.

Tire companies are also making efforts in environmental and social responsibility. For instance, Germany’s Continental Group has launched a green concept tire. Tire companies are highly sensitive to rubber prices, so widespread adoption will take time.

In the wake of the environmental trend, footwear companies have become less price-sensitive and are generally willing to adopt this new eco-friendly rubber material. Companies such as Adidas and Puma have launched a variety of bio-based, environmentally friendly shoes.

Advantage:

Reduce reliance on petroleum-based synthetic rubber;

For green tires (reducing rolling resistance and enhancing electric vehicle range).

Representative enterprise:

Global: Genomatica (U.S.), Lanxess (Germany);

China: Linglong Tire (under development), Sinopec.

III. Industry Challenges and Opportunities

Challenge:

Stability of raw material supply (balance between grain and non-grain biomass);

The recycling system for bio-based materials is incomplete.

Some material properties still need to be optimized (such as the insufficient heat resistance of PLA).

Opportunity:

Biorefining technologies (such as sugar production from straw) reduce raw material costs;

Policy subsidies are driving downstream applications (such as bio-based courier bags);

Consumers are increasingly favoring “green brands” (e.g., Apple and IKEA are adopting bio-based materials).

Conclusion

In 2025, bio-based materials will accelerate their penetration into high-growth sectors such as packaging, automotive, and healthcare. PLA, PHA, bio-based polyamides, cellulose-based materials, and bio-based rubber are set to become the mainstream trends. Enterprises need to pay close attention to technological iterations and industrial chain collaboration while addressing bottlenecks in cost reduction and large-scale production. Chinese companies active in the field of synthetic biology—such as Kexing Bio and Blue Crystal Microorganisms—are poised to achieve technological breakthroughs and become key players in the global bio-based materials supply chain.