PreScouter, a Chicago-based research intelligence company, has released a new report that highlights 9 commercial fermentation chemicals key in the polymers, personal care, food and cleaning industries. Fermentation chemicals offer negative carbon emissions using biowaste, CO₂, or methane feedstocks. Their customizable processes do not compete with food supply or depend on seasons, reducing environmental impact. PreScouter's report predicts significant growth for fermentation chemicals, with several poised to enter billion-dollar markets by 2030. The report serves as a valuable resource for companies seeking a path to sustainable, efficient, and eco-friendly industrial production.
“Fermentation platform chemicals have shown the potential to positively affect almost all industrial sectors, given the extensive possibilities and supply chain ramifications, notes Dr. Priscila Costa Carvalho, PreScouter Project Architect and report co-author. “They are definitely one of the top three topics that manufacturers should be thinking about for transitioning to a greener economy. Fermentation isn’t a new concept, but processes at scale, with price parity with fossil-based synthetic ones and using waste as feedstock have been recently achieved and will continue their double-digit growth trajectory," adds Dr. Carvalho.
PreScouter's report reviews the use of three major microbial groups (bacteria, yeast, and microalgae) in fermentation processes for the production of chemicals, identifying more sustainable alternatives to fossil-based plastics, oil-based diols, synthetic dyes/colorants, synthetic organic acids, and synthetic superabsorbent polymers. In this report, PreScouter particularly analyzes fermentation chemicals with anticipated negative emissions and evidenced significant market growth.
The report features insights from industry experts and highlights 9 key players impacting the value chain of fermentation chemical production.
Key highlights from the report:
- Nine commercial fermentation chemicals demonstrate significant potential to revolutionize production processes across various industries, including packaging, textiles, paints and coatings, solvents, cleaning products, cosmetics and personal care, and food and beverage.
- More than half of the companies profiled are anticipated to achieve double-digit growth rates, with potential to penetrate billion-dollar markets by 2030.
- Five out of the nine chemicals are expected to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 15%, reflecting substantial value appreciation.
- The production capacity for these nine bioproducts, derived through fermentation processes, currently exceeds 272 kilotons annually, underscoring their growing industrial relevance.
- Despite the promising prospects, several key challenges remain: scaling up production processes, utilization of genetically modified strains, regulatory hurdles in product registration, and high production costs.
For companies looking to achieve their sustainability goals, this report provides a path forward by laying out fermentation chemistry strategies, considering all the potential industry hurdles.
As Dr. Marija Jovic, Technical Director for PreScouter’s Chemical, Materials, and Packaging verticals and coauthor of the report concludes "Fermentation chemicals are an attractive strategic option for meeting the growing demand for green chemistry solutions. They enable the creation of sustainable bio building blocks that can be used to develop innovative products and solutions across a wide range of applications. Investing in these technological advancements is key to staying ahead of the curve".