White Biotechnology Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Product Type (Industrial Enzymes, Bio-Based Chemicals, Biofuels, and Others), By Technology (Fermentation, Biocatalysis, Cell-Free Biosynthesis, and Others), By Application (Chemicals & Materials Manufacturing, Energy & Fuels, and Region Forecast 2020-2031

White Biotechnology Market size was valued at US$ 325.6 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 437.2 million by 2031, growing at a significant CAGR of 4.3% from 2025-2031. Moreover, the U.S. White Biotechnology Market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$ 136.4 Million by 2031. The market uses living organisms such as microorganisms, enzymes, and biological processes to produce sustainable, bio-based products for industrial applications. The market is primarily driven by the increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly industrial processes, as industries seek alternatives to reduce carbon emissions and comply with stricter environmental regulations. Microbial and enzyme-based processes are now being embraced for their ability to produce bioplastics, biofuels, and green chemicals with lower ecological impact.

A major trend in the market is the integration of synthetic biology and AI-driven strain engineering, which enhances microbial efficiency and accelerates product development.  Companies like DSM and Ginkgo Bioworks are using digital biology to optimize industrial bioprocesses. Additionally, the market is seeing increased adoption of carbon capture, use of agricultural waste for feedstocks, and development of biodegradable packaging. The leading opportunity lies in scaling bio-based production for chemicals, fuels, and personal care products as global brands and regulators push for circular economy models.

However, the market faces restraints in the form of high production costs, scalability issues, and limited cost competitiveness with petrochemical alternatives. Moreover, regulatory inconsistencies and low consumer awareness in developing regions pose further challenges. Despite these hurdles, the combination of sustainability mandates, technological innovation, and growing industrial interest is positioning white biotechnology as a transformative force in global manufacturing.

Facts & Figures

• Rising Demand for Sustainable Alternatives: White biotechnology enables the production of bio-based chemicals, plastics, and fuels that are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and low in carbon footprint, meeting global sustainability goals. For instance, according to the European Bioplastics Association 2024, global bioplastics production capacity is expected to grow from 2.2 million tons in 2023 to 7.5 million tons by 2028, driven by demand from the FMCG and packaging sectors.
• Government Policy Support and Green Regulations: Policies promoting decarbonization, bans on single-use plastics, and incentives for green manufacturing are accelerating the adoption of white biotech solutions. For instance, the EU Green Deal and the US Inflation Reduction Act 2022 allocate $369 billion for climate-focused initiatives, including funding for bio-based industrial manufacturing.
• Advancements in Synthetic Biology: Gene editing tools like CRISPR and AI-based strain engineering enhance microbial efficiency, reduce costs, and allow production of complex bio-compounds at scale. For instance, Ginkgo Bioworks partnered with Bayer in 2024 to engineer microbes for bio-fertilizer production using AI and synthetic biology, receiving $100M+ funding from the US$A’s Climate-Smart initiative.
• Industrial Decarbonization and Net-Zero Goals: Industrial sectors are integrating white biotechnology to meet ESG goals and reduce Scope 3 emissions through carbon-neutral biomanufacturing. For instance, in March 2024, BASF announced a strategic investment in carbon-negative fermentation platforms in partnership with LanzaTech, targeting chemicals made from captured CO?.

Key Developments:

• In July 2025, Sanofi is purchasing UK-based biotech Vicebio to strengthen its respiratory vaccine pipeline, including RSV and hMPV vaccines using molecular clamp technology. The deal includes $1.15B upfront and $450M in milestones, boosting innovation in bio-based vaccine platforms.
• In May 2025, Merck is acquiring SpringWorks for US$3.9B to bolster its rare disease and oncology pipeline. The all-cash offer values SpringWorks at $47/share, reflecting Merck’s strategic focus on high-growth therapeutic areas.
• In April 2025, DSM-Firmenich entered a strategic alliance with biotech leader Inscripta to develop novel, well-aging skincare ingredients using Inscripta’s GenoScaler™ genome-engineering platform. This collaboration exemplifies white biotechnology’s growing role in beauty and personal care, creating high-performing, sustainable bio-actives at scale.
• In March 2025, AstraZeneca will acquire EsoBiotec to enhance its cell therapy capabilities using in vivo CAR?T platforms, enabling immune modulation via direct injection. This aligns with its expansion into advanced bio-therapeutics.

White Biotechnology Market Segmentation:

Based on the product type:

• Industrial Enzymes
• Bio-Based Chemicals
• Biofuels
• Others

The industrial enzymes segment holds the largest market share in the market. These enzymes are widely used across diverse industries such as food processing, detergents, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and bioethanol production due to their high efficiency, specificity, and eco-friendly nature. Demand is driven by cost-effective biocatalysis, reduced energy consumption, and increasing adoption of green manufacturing practices. Moreover, technological advancements in enzyme engineering and increased usage in animal feed and baking industries further support market dominance. On the other hand, biofuels, though gaining attention for energy transition, still hold the smallest share due to high production costs, infrastructure limitations, and fluctuating crude oil prices affecting competitiveness.

Based on the technology:

• Fermentation
• Biocatalysis
• Cell?Free Biosynthesis
• Others

Fermentation holds the largest market share in the market. This well-established technology enables the large-scale production of enzymes, biofuels, and bio-based chemicals by leveraging microorganisms under controlled conditions. Its versatility, cost-efficiency, and scalability make it the backbone of industrial biotechnology. Fermentation is widely used across food, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and chemical industries, and is supported by decades of optimization and infrastructure availability. In contrast, cell-free biosynthesis, holds the smallest share due to challenges like high costs, limited scalability, and minimal industrial penetration.

Based on the application:

• Chemicals & Materials Manufacturing
• Energy & Fuels
• Others

The chemicals & materials manufacturing holds the largest market share in the market. This is driven by increasing demand for sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based products, such as bio-based plastics, solvents, and specialty chemicals. Industries are rapidly adopting bio-manufacturing to reduce carbon emissions and meet regulatory and consumer sustainability goals. White biotechnology is used to produce biodegradable materials like PLA and PHA, and enzymes for textiles, detergents, and pulp processing, applications that are more diversified and commercially mature than energy-focused uses. Meanwhile, energy & fuels, while crucial for decarbonization, account for a smaller share due to challenges in cost competitiveness, infrastructure, and market volatility in comparison to fossil fuels.