Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Market: Characteristics, Production, Recent Developments and Applications

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers produced by microorganisms as a storage material for carbon and energy sources. They are made up of repeating units of monomers and are classified by their monomeric units. PHAs are often used as biodegradable plastics and have potential applications in packaging, personal care and medical products. The demand for PHA is increasing due to its unique properties, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and potential for low-cost production. Additionally, PHA is being explored for use in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and bioremediation.

The global?Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Market?is projected to reach USD 167 million by 2027, at a CAGR of 15.3% from USD 81 million in 2022. The market is mainly driven by government regulations prohibiting/restricting the use of plastic bags across the globe. Certain factors are restraining market growth; among them, the high prices of final products is a major factor due to the expensive production process. Manufacturers of PHA can tap growth opportunities in the Asia Pacific market, where the adoption of biodegradable plastics is increasing.

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Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)?Market- Key?Driving Factors

1. Growing demand for biodegradable and eco-friendly materials: The growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly materials is one of the major drivers of the Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) market. PHA is a biodegradable and compostable bioplastic that can replace conventional petroleum-based plastics and provide a more sustainable solution.

2. Increasing investment and research activities: There have been increasing investments and research activities in the PHA market. Companies are investing in research and development activities to increase the production efficiency of PHA and to develop new applications.

3. Growing demand from the healthcare sector: The healthcare sector is one the major users of PHA, as it is used for medical applications such as implants, sutures, devices and pharmaceutical products. The growing demand for medical applications is leading to the growth of the PHA market.

4. Government initiatives and regulations: Governments around the world are promoting the use of biodegradable materials to reduce the environmental pollution caused by conventional plastics. As a result, the demand for PHA is increasing, which is driving the growth of the PHA market.

“Short chain length is projected to grow at fastest CAGR during the forecast period”

All larger companies produce short-chain-length PHA, except Danimer Scientific. Initially, ICL and Metabolix Inc. developed short-chain length chain polymers, and various applications were identified. The most common short-chain length PHA is Poly (HydroxyButyrate-co-HydroxyValerate), which is manufactured by TianAn Biologic Materials China. However, the most important factor that can be attributed to higher growth of short chain length PHA is the low cost of these polymers as compared to medium chain length PHAs.

“Vegetable oil fermentation is projected to be the fastest growing production method in PHA market, in terms of value”

Triglyceride-rich vegetable oil sourced from soy, canola, and palm, among others, is converted by triacylglycerol-utilizing bacteria, which secrete lipase. Lipase is a fatty acid from triacylglycerol molecules, which is then consumed by the bacteria. The process is a little complex and requires a special strain of bacteria. Kaneka is one of the major players utilizing this method of production. Used cooking oil is a cheaper source for the production of PHA, which helps reduce the cost of production. This factor is responsible for the high growth rate of the vegetable oil fermentation method.

“Europe is expected to be the fastest growing market for PHA during the forecast period, in terms of value and volume.”

Europe is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period both, in terms of value and volume, which is attributed to the significant demand from countries such as Germany, Italy, and France. Government policies supporting the use of biodegradable plastics and increasing awareness among consumers are the key factors responsible for market growth in the European region.

The key global players in the PHA market include Danimer Scientific (US), Shenzhen Ecomann Biotechnology Co., Ltd . (China), KANEKA CORPORATION (Japan), RWDC Industries (Singapore), Newlight Technologies, Inc. / AIRCARBON LLC (US), TIANAN Chemical Technology Development Co., ltd. (China), Biomer (Germany) and others.

Danimer Scientific, formerly known as Meredian Holdings Inc., which is biopolymer manufacturer, was formed in 2004 to provide biodegradable and sustainable solutions and decrease the global dependence on conventional plastics. Meredian Holdings Inc., a sister company of Danimer Scientific, purchased the intellectual property rights for bio-plastic technology called Nodax from Procter & Gamble in 2007. In 2016, Danimer Scientific LLC and Meredian Holdings Inc. merged into a single company, and their corporate identity became Danimer Scientific, which is currently the leader in biodegradable polymer, PHA. Danimer Scientific currently has two facilities to cater the demand for biodegradable polymers. The recent merger with Live Oak Acquisition Corp, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, helped Danimer become a public company. It has a production capacity of 10,000 tons per year and the capability to customize biodegradable resins, constituting a range of products which include resins, pellets, and extrusion products. Currently, Danimer Scientific has a strong presence in North America and Europe.

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Kaneka Corporation is a Japan-based chemical manufacturing company which produces chemical products such as functional resins, foam resins, expandable plastics, foodstuffs, life science products, electronic products, biodegradable materials, and synthetic products serving the food packaging, medicinal, electronics, and construction industries. The company offers its products through four business segments, namely, material solutions unit, quality of life solutions unit, healthcare solutions unit, and nutrition solutions unit. As part of its new business development initiatives, the company has started expanding the production of a biodegradable polymer called KANEKA Biodegradable Polymer PHBH through the material solutions unit at the Takasago factory, Japan. The company uses vegetable oils and other biomass as raw materials. It offers products for the food packaging materials, agricultural, and civil engineering materials, and marine materials applications. The company has a presence in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe other than Japan.

Recent Developments

• In June 2022, Newlight Technologies launched plastic-free AirCarbon-based coated paper products created from regenerative materials. This product is made by the nature-based carbon capture process which results in a paper product that is moisture-resistant, grease-resistant, and plastic-free.
• In May 2022, Kaneka Corporation has developed expandable plastic technology that turns biodegradable polymer into molded foam products which has been adopted by the fisheries business for fish boxes to store fresh fish.
• On March 2022, Tokyu Hotels decided to use the toothbrush made from KANEKA Biodegradable Polymer Green Planet in its hotels, rolling out deployment starting from April 2022 which is expected to become the first hotel chain to purchase toothbrushes made from Green Planet.
• In January 2022, Bluepha’s first commercial biodegradable material, PHA plant covers 86,000 sqm and is located in the Coastal Industrial Park of Jiangsu Binhai Economic Development Zone, with an annual PHA capacity of 25,000 tons. The entire plant is divided into two phases, whereby the first phase holds 5,000 tons per annum PHA capacity, to be completed by the end of 2022.