Substituting fossil fuel-based products with bio-alternatives is increasingly feasible as the development of new renewable feedstocks supports the commercial production of bio-based products including plastics, fuels and chemicals. IDTechEx's portfolio of Sustainability Research Reports and Subscriptions explores the impact of sustainable switches across many major sectors.
The switch to bioplastics
Plastics are everywhere, used in applications from packaging to clothing, with >99% derived from petrochemicals which originate from fossil fuels. Not only are the chemicals used in plastic production harmful to the environment, but the microplastics and forever chemicals they produce when disposed of incorrectly can have long lasting, irreversible effects on water sources and the human body.
Alternative bioplastics, characterized by their renewable sourcing and biodegradability, are chemically different from conventional plastics. However, alternative bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have higher production costs and reduced durability compared with conventional plastics, meaning they are best suited to single-use plastic applications such as cutlery or even pregnancy tests.
'Drop-in' bioplastics, on the other hand, are typically not biodegradable. They are made from feedstocks that are chemically identical to regular plastics but instead derived from renewable biomass sources. Due to their matching properties, these bioplastics can be manufactured and recycled with existing infrastructure, meaning costs are lower. These plastic types include bio-based polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester. IDTechEx's report, "Bioplastics 2026-2036: Technology, Market, Players, and Forecasts", provides a deep dive into the market, highlighting that plastic production reached over 502 million tonnes in 2025, with this figure expected to keep growing at a compound annual growth rate of 2.6%.
IDTechEx's report describes that circularity within the plastic industry will be pivotal to achieving decarbonization and reducing the plastic industry's reliance on fossil fuels. This would enable waste from biodegradable plastic re-entering the cycle as a new feedstock and repeating this over and over. However, IDTechEx states that even if 100% of current plastics were recycled, the ever-growing demand for virgin plastic provides a market for expansions in bioplastic production.
Biodiesel and the use of vegetable oil
Biofuels are an up-and-coming solution to reducing fossil fuel reliance within the fuel industry. With transport accounting for a fifth of global CO2 emissions, a solution has long been needed. IDTechEx's report, "Sustainable Biofuels & E-Fuels Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", covers the different generations of biofuels, including conventional biofuels made from food crops and food oils, which are 1st generation, and advanced biofuels. The movement away from conventional biofuels comes as a result of environmental concerns surrounding the high water and land usage required to grow the feedstocks, competition with food crops, and fluctuating prices. Alongside this, policies are shifting towards the mandating of advanced biofuels and e-fuels to keep in line with sustainability goals.
Advanced biofuels include 2nd generation biofuels, which encompass lignocellulosic feedstocks, waste biomass, and waste vegetable oils, 3rd generation, referring to algae feedstocks, and 4th generation, expected to be from genetically engineered microorganisms or captured CO2. The scope for these feedstocks is great, with a large variety already in development, highlighting the effort being made to reach decarbonization goals within the fuel sector.
Manufacturing chemicals sustainably
The chemical sector is a huge contributor to harmful emissions, due to the harsh processes required to manufacture them. White biotechnology, covered in IDTechEx's report, "Biomanufacturing Specialty Chemicals 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, Players, Forecasts", is a process which uses enzymes and microorganisms to create bio-based products for a variety of applications in sectors such as food, healthcare, cosmetics, and chemicals, including speciality chemicals, which are produced to serve a particular purpose and require the best functionality. Over the next decade, IDTechEx predicts that the production capacity for speciality chemicals will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.7% from 444ktpa in 2026, to 701ktpa in 2036, as a result of white biotechnology being able to deliver extremely precise results, and being a fantastic option for producing these chemicals over other production routes.
White biotechnology is being further developed to produce high-value products on a much larger scale, so that more products can become biobased. Many trends are now emerging within the space too, including the use of novel biocatalysts, the development of cell-free systems, and the use of alternative feedstocks, each explored within IDTechEx's report.
For more information, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Sustainability Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest sustainable developments across a number of sectors.
