In 2025, sustainable innovation has become a core focus in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries worldwide. Private companies are at the forefront of developing green technologies, circular bio-processes, and socially impactful healthcare solutions. These innovators span North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the UK, tackling challenges from carbon emissions and plastic waste to global health access. This report profiles 25 leading private biotech/biopharma companies and their contributions in 2025, highlighting their key innovations introduced or scaled this year, sustainability commitments (like net-zero and ESG goals), and notable impact metrics (e.g. emission reductions, healthcare reach). A comparative summary table is provided at the end for a concise overview of all players.

Asia-Pacific Leaders in Sustainable Biotech Innovation

Spiber (Japan) – Brewed Protein™ biomaterials. Spiber uses precision fermentation with renewable plant sugars and partners with agribusiness ADM to source corn via regenerative farming. In 2025, Spiber expanded global production of its bio-based silk and wool alternatives by gearing up a new Iowa facility. Its fermented polymers replace petro-based textiles and animal fibres in apparel and automotive materials. Sustainability commitment: Spiber’s process is part of a decarbonised value chain – it actively supports regenerative agriculture to cut supply-chain emissions. Impact: Brewed Protein materials are biodegradable and animal-free, helping reduce dependence on petroleum and livestock. By working with Iowa corn farmers on cover crops and low-till practices, Spiber improves soil carbon sequestration and lowers GHG emissions in feedstock production. Its large-scale fermentation plant aims for net-zero waste and energy efficiency.

TurtleTree (Singapore) – Cell-based dairy nutrition. In 2025 TurtleTree made headlines by commercialising the world’s first precision-fermented lactoferrin, a valuable milk protein, without cows. After receiving a “no questions” GRAS letter from the U.S. FDA in March 2025, TurtleTree’s animal-free lactoferrin “LF+” can be used in foods and supplements. Sustainability commitment: TurtleTree’s process eliminates the massive resource use of traditional dairy – producing 1 kg of bovine lactoferrin requires ~10,000 litres of cow’s milk. By using microbes instead of cattle, it saves water, land, and emissions. Impact: The company’s fermentation-produced LF+ provides a vegan, scalable source of a nutrient normally scarce and costly (dairy lactoferrin costs \$700–800/kg). This innovation can democratise access to immune-boosting nutrition while sparing dairy cows and cutting dairy’s carbon footprint. TurtleTree projects halving the cost of lactoferrin in coming years, making it affordable for infant formula and functional foods.

String Bio (India) – Methane-to-protein upcycling. Bangalore-based String Bio transforms methane gas (a potent GHG) into protein ingredients using proprietary fermentation and methanotrophic microbes. In 2025, String Bio achieved regulatory milestones – its microbial protein “PRO-DG” gained FDA GRAS approval, paving the way for use in animal feed and food. Sustainability commitment: By consuming methane from waste or natural gas, String’s process not only prevents GHG emissions but also produces carbon-negative protein for agriculture. It uses 20× less water than soy or animal protein production. Impact: String Bio’s platform yields sustainable animal feed and crop inputs, reducing reliance on soy cultivation (linked to deforestation) and synthetic fertilizer. Its biostimulant products for rice saved 4 tons CO₂ per acre and boosted yields ~25% in trials. The company’s expansion (including partnerships in Australia and India) is scaling these benefits across food systems.

Bluepha (China) – Marine-biodegradable bioplastics. Bluepha is a Beijing-based synthetic biology startup producing PHA biopolymer – a fully bio-based, biodegradable plastic. In 2025, Bluepha ramped up output at its BioFAB1 plant (opened in Yancheng) to supply PHA resins globally. Key innovation: Bluepha’s PHA naturally degrades in almost all environments. Tests showed its material achieved ~90% biodegradation in seawater within 16 weeks, making it one of the first plastics truly capable of solving marine pollution. Sustainability commitment: Bluepha’s fermentation uses renewable biomass feedstocks (certified 100% biobased carbon) and its factory is designed as a “green facility” with water recycling and energy-efficient tech. Impact: The company’s first plant (5,000 tonnes/year) provides PHA for packaging, textiles, and consumer goods, replacing persistent plastics. By 2025, Bluepha had reduced composting times for PHA to just 10 weeks (home compost). Its growth offers a path to curb the 8 million tons of plastic entering oceans annually, enabling a circular bio-economy in China and beyond.

Serum Institute of India (India) – Greening vaccine production & access. Serum Institute (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, is a privately held biopharma giant combining global health impact with sustainability efforts. Innovation in 2025: SII expanded affordable vaccine access (partnering on a new dengue therapy for developing countries), while investing in renewable energy at its production campuses. Sustainability commitment: Serum has achieved 85% renewable power for its facilities by installing 57.2 MW of wind energy. It also replaced fossil-fuel boilers with carbon-neutral biomass briquettes, cutting GHG emissions and supporting farmers with extra income. SII recycles 60–65% of its wastewater on-site. Impact: SII produces billions of vaccine doses annually, supplying over 170 countries – its low-cost vaccines for diseases like measles and COVID-19 have saved countless lives (over 2.8 billion vaccine doses were provided free for lymphatic filariasis elimination, for instance). By greening its operations (certified emission reductions achieved), SII sets an example for sustainable pharma manufacturing. Its initiatives help shrink the carbon footprint of global immunisation programmes while maintaining life-saving output.

Samsara Eco (Australia) – Enzymatic infinite recycling. Sydney-based Samsara Eco has pioneered AI-designed enzymes to break down plastic waste into monomers for infinite recycling. In September 2025, Samsara opened its first commercial enzymatic recycling plant (Jerrabomberra, NSW), marking a “tipping point” for circular plastics at scale. Key innovation: Samsara’s EosEco enzymes can depolymerise hard-to-recycle plastics – including mixed, multi-layer and colored plastics that normally end up in landfill. The process yields virgin-equivalent building blocks, which are fed back into new plastics without quality loss. Sustainability commitment: By decoupling plastics from fossil feedstocks, Samsara’s technology enables plastics to have “infinite afterlife” in a closed loop, supporting climate goals and reducing pollution. The Jerrabomberra facility itself is powered by renewable energy and serves as a model for advanced recycling, positioning Australia as a leader in circular materials. Impact: Currently only ~10% of plastics are recycled globally; Samsara’s solution (backed by >AUD\$150 million funding and partnerships with brands) can drastically improve that. Its first plant will save thousands of tons of plastic from landfills and cut associated carbon emissions. By 2025, Time Magazine recognised Samsara Eco among the world’s leading green technology companies. Plans are underway for a 20,000 tonne/year plant in Asia by 2028, scaling the climate impact further.

Vow (Australia) – Cultivated exotic meats. Sydney-based Vow is a food biotech startup cultivating cells to create novel meats without slaughter. In 2025, Vow became one of the first companies to commercialise cultivated meat in the Asia-Pacific: it secured regulatory approval to sell its cultured quail meat in Singapore and Australia. Vow’s approach is unique – rather than mimicking conventional meats, it designs new culinary experiences (e.g. exotic blends like cultured kangaroo or crocodile). Sustainability commitment: By producing meat from cell cultures, Vow eliminates the need for livestock farming, which reduces land use, water use and methane emissions. Cultured meat, if produced with clean energy, can cut GHG emissions by ~92% and land use by 90% compared to beef. Vow’s small production facility already runs on renewable power, aiming for minimal footprint. Impact: With traditional agriculture under pressure, Vow’s technology offers a climate-friendly protein source. Its first product – a cultivated quail mince served in high-end restaurants – demonstrates meat can be made with zero animal slaughter. As of mid-2025, only five companies worldwide (including Vow) have approvals to sell cultivated meat, highlighting Vow’s leadership. Consumer trials in Singapore showed strong acceptance of Vow’s products, an encouraging sign that such sustainable meats could displace wildlife poaching and unsustainable farming in the future.

Samsara Eco’s enzymatic recycling facility in Australia – opened 2025 – uses engineered enzymes to break down mixed plastic waste into reusable monomers, enabling a closed-loop plastic economy. Such biotech solutions help divert difficult plastics from landfill and reduce carbon footprint by replacing virgin petrochemicals.

European Leaders (Continental Europe)

Mosa Meat (Netherlands) – Cultivated beef pioneers. Mosa Meat, the Dutch food tech famous for creating the first lab-grown burger, made major strides in 2025 toward bringing cultured beef to market. The company filed the EU’s first-ever Novel Food application for a cultivated meat product (a cultured beef fat ingredient) in January 2025. This “fat-first” strategy is designed to meet Europe’s regulatory framework by approving components individually. Sustainability commitment: Mosa Meat’s mission is a “cleaner, kinder way of making beef” – its process could slash greenhouse gas emissions by up to 92% and land/water use by up to 95% versus conventional cattle farming. It has pledged to power its production with renewable energy and continuously improve cell culture efficiency to lower resource use. Impact: If widely adopted, cultivated beef can alleviate pressure on land (each cultivated burger saves dozens of square metres of land and thousands of litres of water). Mosa Meat’s technology produces meat with no methane emissions and no deforestation. In 2025, its tasting events (in partnership with chefs) garnered praise for taste parity. The company also emphasizes food security – facility cultivation decouples meat supply from livestock disease and antibiotics, offering a safer, more sustainable protein source.

Solar Foods (Finland) – “Protein from air” revolution. Solar Foods has developed a novel fermentation that feeds microbes on CO₂, hydrogen, and renewable electricity to produce Solein® protein, an entirely new food source. In 2025, Solar Foods achieved a 100× industrial scale-up of Solein production at its Factory 01 plant (operational since 2024). This validated the technology at commercial scale, enabling the company to plan an even larger Factory 02 with confidence. Sustainability commitment: Solein is grown independent of agriculture or climate – no arable land, pesticides, or livestock needed. The continuous process uses industry-captured CO₂ as carbon input, effectively turning emissions into food, and is powered by renewables. Solar Foods aims to reach high energy efficiency (already achieved >2.6 O₂/CO₂ yield ratio) and to continually lower electricity per kg protein. Impact: Solein could transform food sustainability – it has a tiny land footprint (it can yield protein using ~1% of the water and land of soy or animal farming) and can be produced in deserts, cities, or even space. By late 2025, Solar Foods had signed supply agreements totalling 6,000 tons/year for Solein – including for use in climate-friendly foods and fortification. The first shipments to customers in the US have begun, and consumer feedback notes Solein’s mild taste and nutrition (protein-rich with iron and B12). This “protein-from-air” innovation directly addresses both climate change (by utilising CO₂) and food security.

Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany) – Holistic ESG in pharma. Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) is a top 20 global pharma company – and crucially, it’s family-owned (private). In 2025, BI launched a new edition of its “Sustainable Development – For Generations” strategy, accelerating its ESG goals for 2030. Sustainability commitment: BI has pledged to become carbon-neutral in all operations by 2030, and to halve its total value-chain resource footprint by 2030 (versus 2019 baseline). This covers energy, waste, water, and raw materials across its sites and suppliers. The company also integrates sustainability into healthcare delivery – e.g. investing in sustainable aviation fuel for drug distribution and digitising services to cut travel emissions. On the social side, BI’s strategy aims to improve access to healthcare for 50 million people in underserved communities by 2030 (through programs like “Angels” stroke care and “Stop Rabies”). Impact: In 2025, Boehringer achieved several milestones: all its German sites now run on 100% renewable power and have reduced air freight use (preventing thousands of tons of CO₂). It was ranked among top pharma for sustainability by various indices. BI’s “Imagine” sustainability hub shares stories such as delivering medicines via sailboat to cut carbon and reach remote patients. As a private company, BI reinvests long-term in green infrastructure (like green buildings and biodiversity at its campuses) and in 2025 it began constructing a new carbon-neutral biomanufacturing facility in Europe. The company’s integrated approach shows that even large-scale biopharma can align with the Paris Climate Agreement and UN SDGs while maintaining innovation.

Formo (Germany) – Animal-free artisan cheese. Berlin-based Formo is a leading precision fermentation startup crafting dairy proteins (like casein) via microbes to make real cheese without cows. In early 2025, Formo raised €35 million from the European Investment Bank to scale up production, and it launched its first animal-free cheese products in select European retailers. Key innovation: Rather than rely on milk, Formo’s microbes produce genuine milk proteins which give cheese its stretch and melt. In 2025 the company debuted “Frischhain” (a cream cheese) and “Camembritz” (a soft ripened cheese) made with fermented proteins and fats. While awaiting precision-fermented casein approvals, Formo cleverly uses koji-derived proteins to start selling cheeses, bridging the gap to fully animal-free casein cheeses expected soon. Sustainability commitment: Formo’s goal is to eliminate the climate and animal welfare issues of dairy. Precision fermentation can reduce dairy’s GHG emissions by ~91% and energy use by ~65% per kilogram of protein, according to LCA studies. Formo’s facilities plan to utilize green energy and feedstocks (sugar) sourced from sustainable agriculture. Impact: Dairy farming is a major emitter (via methane) and land/water user – Formo’s technology offers the same cheese experience with a fraction of the footprint. By 2025 Formo’s pilot plant was producing tens of thousands of liters of fermentation broth, and the new funding will help build a full-scale factory. If Formo achieves its vision, beloved cheeses like camembert and cheddar could be made with 97% less carbon and without intensive livestock, contributing significantly to EU climate targets while satisfying consumers.

United Kingdom Innovators

Colorifix (UK) – Biological dyeing for sustainable fashion. Colorifix, based in Norwich, is revolutionising the textile industry by using engineered microbes to produce and fix dyes directly onto fabrics. In 2025, the company scaled up to commercial dyehouse operations across Europe and Asia, supported by an £18 million funding round and partnerships with major fashion brands. Key innovation: Colorifix’s microbes (bacteria or yeast) are programmed with DNA codes for natural pigments, allowing them to “grow” colour and attach it to textiles without toxic chemicals. This process works in existing dye machines but cuts water use by ~90% and energy use by ~70%, while eliminating hazardous dye chemicals. In traditional dyeing, ~5 trillion litres of water are used annually and vast pollution is generated – Colorifix’s method changes that paradigm. Sustainability commitment: The company’s goal is to replace synthetic petrochemical dyes (which often end up polluting rivers) with biodegradable, non-toxic pigments made via fermentation. It uses renewable feedstocks (sugars, agricultural byproducts) to feed the dye microbes. Colorifix also pioneers distributed production – placing fermentation units at dyeing facilities to avoid transport and enable local circularity. Impact: In 2025, Colorifix gained high-profile validation – it was a finalist for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, and the Prince and Princess of Wales visited its lab to endorse the technology. The company has run successful trials in Portugal, India, and beyond, proving its dyes on industrial equipment. Fashion brands like H&M, Pangaia and Stella McCartney have backed Colorifix, and its dyes have met safety certifications (OEKO-TEX Eco Passport) for skin and environmental health. By dramatically reducing water pollution and carbon emissions in fashion supply chains, Colorifix is on track to enable 15% of global textile dyeing to use its method by 2030, potentially saving billions of litres of water each year.

Notpla (UK) – Seaweed-based packaging to replace single-use plastic. London-based Notpla has gained fame for its seaweed-derived compostable packaging, offering an alternative to polluting single-use plastics. After winning the Earthshot Prize in 2022, Notpla scaled up deployment of its products through 2025: from edible sauce sachets and water capsules to seaweed-coated takeaway boxes at major events. Key innovation: Notpla (short for “not plastic”) uses extracts from fast-growing seaweed and plants to create packaging films, coated cardboard, and other formats that are naturally biodegradable. Some of its packs are even edible; all will dissolve or compost to zero residue within weeks – leaving “no harmful traces”. This addresses the plastic waste crisis by providing a drop-in replacement that simply “disappears” after use. Sustainability commitment: Seaweed feedstock is abundant and renewable, growing without freshwater or fertiliser. Notpla sources from sustainable seaweed farms and designs its products to be home-compostable (no industrial compost needed). An LCA review showed Notpla’s material has up to 79% lower carbon footprint than conventional plastic packaging. The company targets 1 billion units of single-use plastic displaced by 2030. Impact: By mid-2025 Notpla had already replaced over 21 million plastic items across Europe – from biodegradable food boxes at football stadiums and concerts (e.g. serving Beyoncé’s tour snacks in seaweed containers), to edible water pods used at the London Marathon. Its catering box for takeaways won the 2023 UK Packaging Awards for innovation. Each Notpla unit used avoids plastic that could persist for centuries. Moreover, seaweed farming for Notpla can sequester CO₂ and create coastal jobs. As it scales, Notpla could significantly reduce the 380 million tons of plastic produced annually and help move the packaging industry toward bio-circular models.

North & Latin America Leaders

Solugen (USA) – Carbon-negative specialty chemicals. Solugen is a Houston-based synthetic biology company reimagining chemical manufacturing through its Bioforge™ platform – the world’s first enzymatic chemistries producing industrial chemicals with a carbon-neutral process. In 2025, Solugen scaled up in a big way: it broke ground on a new 500,000 sq ft biorefinery in Minnesota in partnership with ADM, slated to start production in H1 2025. Key innovation: Solugen uses a unique chemienzymatic reactor that converts renewable feedstocks like plant sugars into chemicals (e.g. organic acids, glycols) traditionally made from petroleum. Its process runs at ambient conditions with biodegradable catalysts, yielding products for construction, agriculture, and consumer goods with drastically lower emissions. Sustainability commitment: The company operates a carbon-negative “molecular factory” – life-cycle analysis shows many Solugen products avoid more CO₂ than they emit, and the manufacturing process itself is carbon-neutral. Solugen aligns with ambitious climate targets; indeed its expansion with ADM was noted as bolstering domestic supply chains for the U.S. to meet climate goals. Impact: By replacing petrochemical production (often energy-intensive and polluting) with bio-based routes, Solugen’s products can cut 50–85% of the carbon footprint. For example, its glucaric acid for water treatment has >90% lower CO₂ emissions than the incumbent process. Solugen has already avoided an estimated 90,000 tons of CO₂e at scale through its initial operations. With over \$600 million raised to date, it’s one of the first synthetic biology unicorns delivering at commercial tonnage. Beyond carbon, Solugen’s water-based, zero-toxic-input process reduces waste; it exemplifies how green chemistry can also be profitable, as the firm’s products are cost-competitive with petro-ones. (Solugen’s revenues and customer demand are soaring, driving its multi-phase Bioforge expansion).

Genomatica (USA) – Plant-based chemicals at scale. San Diego’s Genomatica (brand name Geno) has spent two decades engineering microbes to make bulk chemicals from renewable feedstocks. In July 2025, Genomatica and partners opened the world’s largest bio-based BDO plant in Iowa, a facility capable of 65,000 tonnes/year of 1,4-butanediol (BDO) made via fermentation. This marks a milestone in sustainable materials: BDO is used in plastics, spandex and polyurethanes, and Geno’s process using sugars cuts GHG emissions by ~90% compared to the fossil route. Key innovation: Geno’s engineered microbes produce drop-in chemical building blocks (like BDO, nylon intermediates, surfactants) that perform identically to petro-based ones. It enables manufacturers to make plastics and fibres with far less pollution. In 2025, Geno’s BDO technology (licensed to the Qore joint venture) reached full commercial operation, and the firm also progressed its partnerships to produce bio-nylon (with Aquafil) and bio-Corn Nylon (with Lululemon) at pilot scale. Sustainability commitment: Genomatica aims to “replace fossil fuel sources with plants” for all essential materials. It has a 2030 vision to cumulatively save 100 million tons of CO₂ through its products. Geno’s processes use non-food feedstocks where possible and strive for low energy inputs; the new BDO plant uses local corn sugar and operates with highly efficient fermentation to minimise waste. Impact: The Iowa bio-BDO plant alone can cut an estimated ~100,000 tons of CO₂ per year versus the status quo (BDO made from natural gas/acetylene). Additionally, it avoids toxic acetylene chemistry. Geno’s technology is scaling multiple value chains: in 2025 it delivered its first tons of bio-nylon polymer, moving the fashion industry closer to oil-free nylon. The company’s sustainable materials are already in products like athletic wear, cosmetics, and automotive plastics. By proving that 100,000 ton-scale biotech factories are viable, Genomatica is accelerating the entire sector’s shift to biomanufacturing.

Pivot Bio (USA) – Microbial nitrogen for climate-smart agriculture. Pivot Bio, based in California, produces engineered soil microbes that supply crops with nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers. In 2025 Pivot Bio launched its latest product (PROVEN® G3 for corn) and expanded into South America, providing farmers with an even more robust alternative to traditional fertiliser. Key innovation: Pivot’s microbes (applied to seeds or soil) fix atmospheric nitrogen and continuously release it to plants’ roots. Unlike synthetic ammonium fertiliser that often leaches and emits nitrous oxide, Pivot’s biological nitrogen stays put and works in harmony with plant growth. Sustainability commitment: Synthetic nitrogen production is extremely energy- and carbon-intensive (using ~2% of global energy and causing ~300 Mt CO₂e emissions). Pivot Bio’s solution offers “permanent decarbonization” of this input by harnessing natural processes. The company is committed to enabling a fertilizer-free future – its goal is to replace over 100 million tons of chemical fertiliser by 2030. Pivot also prides itself on safer, weather-proof nutrition (its microbes don’t wash into waterways, preventing water pollution and dead zones). Impact: Farmers using Pivot’s microbes have been able to cut 25–50% of their synthetic N use, maintaining yields while avoiding tons of CO₂ emissions (every tonne of ammonia fertiliser saved = ~7 tonnes CO₂ avoided). Moreover, Pivot’s products prevent nitrous oxide emissions from fields (nitrous oxide is 300× more potent than CO₂). The environmental benefit is twofold: cutting manufacturing emissions and reducing on-field greenhouse gases. In recognition of its impact, Pivot Bio was named one of the World’s 10 most innovative biotech startups in 2025. By 2025, it had raised \$600+ million and was deploying its tech on millions of acres of corn, wheat, and other crops, directly contributing to more sustainable and regenerative agriculture worldwide.

MycoWorks (USA) – Fine Mycelium™ alt-leather. San Francisco-based MycoWorks produces luxurious leather alternatives from mycelium (mushroom roots) to replace animal leather and plastic faux-leather. In late 2023 it opened the world’s first commercial-scale Fine Mycelium plant in South Carolina, and in 2025 it began delivering Reishi™ leather to high-end fashion houses at volume. Key innovation: MycoWorks’ patented process coaxes mycelium cells to form an interwoven 3D mat that mimics the collagen structure of hide. The result is a bio-fabric that looks and feels like leather, with customisable strength and texture. It grows in weeks using agricultural waste feedstock, unlike animal leather that involves raising cattle (taking years and causing methane emissions, deforestation, and chemical tanning pollution). Sustainability commitment: MycoWorks’ Reishi leather has been certified as ultra-low carbon. A 2023 life-cycle assessment found Reishi’s production emits >90% less CO₂ than traditional leather (which has one of the highest footprints in fashion). It also uses fewer than 1% of the toxic chemicals used in chrome-tanning animal hides. MycoWorks is committed to zero waste – its mycelium waste can be composted. The new manufacturing plant is designed for resource efficiency and powered partially by renewables. Impact: The global leather goods market is huge (>$400 billion), and MycoWorks is helping decouple it from livestock. Each sheet of Reishi saves an animal hide and avoids the large water and land footprint of raising that animal. In 2025, MycoWorks announced it had produced over 10,000 square feet of Reishi leather and secured partnerships with luxury brands (Hermès has showcased a bag made with MycoWorks material). As production ramps up, the environmental savings scale: one square meter of Reishi vs cow leather saves an estimated 17 kg CO₂eq and 340 litres of water (not to mention eliminating animal slaughter). By proving that biofabrication can meet performance and aesthetic standards, MycoWorks is driving a broader shift to bio-based, circular materials in the textile industry.

GreenLight Biosciences (USA) – RNA tech for planet & public health. GreenLight, headquartered in Boston, is a biotech focused on RNA-based solutions for both agriculture and vaccines. In 2025, GreenLight achieved a major milestone with its first RNA pesticide receiving EPA approval: Calantha™, a biocontrol for Colorado potato beetles, became the first dsRNA insecticide registered in the US. The company also advanced its partnership with Serum Institute to develop low-cost mRNA vaccines for low-income countries. Sustainability commitment: GreenLight’s agricultural products use naturally occurring RNA molecules to target pests precisely, avoiding broad-spectrum chemical sprays. This means no toxic residues, no harm to beneficial insects (like bees), and reduced runoff into soil and water. By replacing conventional pesticides, GreenLight helps cut chemical manufacturing emissions and ecosystem damage. The company has stated its processes are designed to be scalable with minimal environmental footprint, using fermentation and enzymatic synthesis rather than harsh chemistry. Impact: Calantha (targeting potato pests) and GreenLight’s upcoming RNA for varroa mites (to protect honeybees) represent a new class of eco-friendly crop protection. Field trials showed >98% pest control efficacy with 99% reduction in PFAS or harmful residues compared to legacy solutions. Moreover, these biopesticides degrade quickly in the environment, preventing bioaccumulation. GreenLight’s tech extends to human health: in 2025, it worked on an mRNA vaccine for malaria in collaboration with African partners, aiming to replicate the success of mRNA COVID vaccines in a cost-accessible way. TIME Magazine recognized GreenLight Biosciences as a Top 100 GreenTech Company in 2025, underscoring its contributions to a healthier planet. With multiple products in pipeline, GreenLight exemplifies how synthetic biology and RNA can tackle global challenges – from crop yields under climate stress to pandemics – sustainably and equitably.

Newlight Technologies (USA) – Turning greenhouse gas into bioplastic. Newlight, based in California, uses microorganisms to convert methane and CO₂ into a biomaterial called AirCarbon® (PHA), which can replace plastic in products from sunglasses to foodware. In 2025, Newlight expanded its AirCarbon consumer line (producing carbon-negative eyewear and wallets) and inked new partnerships to incorporate its PHA in packaging. Key innovation: Newlight’s proprietary microbes feed on methane from farms or landfills, polymerising it into PHA – essentially making plastic out of air emissions. This biomaterial is home-compostable and marine-degradable, yet performance-equivalent to polypropylene or ABS plastic. Sustainability commitment: Every kilogram of AirCarbon made sequesters carbon. Newlight’s PHA has been certified carbon-negative by independent auditors, meaning it removes more greenhouse gas than emitted in production. By sourcing methane that would otherwise escape (methane has >25× the climate impact of CO₂), Newlight creates a net climate benefit. The company’s facilities run on renewable energy, and it aims for closed-loop systems (customers can return used AirCarbon items to be remelted or composted). Impact: Newlight’s technology addresses both plastic pollution and climate change. In 2025, it operated a large plant in Huntington Beach, CA, and announced plans for a bigger facility to meet rising demand. Its AirCarbon straw and cutlery, launched with food chains, have helped eliminate single-use plastic waste (each PHA straw that degrades avoids adding to ocean microplastics). On the climate side, Newlight reports that for certain product lines, each ton of AirCarbon produced results in ~30 tons of CO₂e removed from the atmosphere (including avoided methane) – a powerful carbon sink. As Newlight scales up with partners in fashion and packaging, it could abate millions of tons of CO₂ while creating useful goods, demonstrating the potential of biotechnology to manufacture materials that are inherently regenerative.

Calysta (USA) – Fermented protein replacing wild fishmeal. California-based Calysta produces FeedKind®, a single-cell protein for animal and aquaculture feed made via gas fermentation. In 2025, Calysta’s JV facility in Chongqing, China (Calysseo) reached full production of 20,000 tonnes/year of FeedKind – the world’s first commercial-scale microbial protein plant for aquaculture. Key innovation: FeedKind protein is grown by feeding naturally occurring bacteria with methane or hydrogen and ammonia in fermenters, yielding a nutritious, high-protein biomass. This provides an alternative to fishmeal (which is made from wild-caught fish) and soy (which requires land and water). Sustainability commitment: FeedKind uses no arable land, very little water, and alleviates pressure on ocean ecosystems. By using methane from waste or energy sources, it valorises GHGs; Calysta’s process has a low carbon footprint per kg protein, especially compared to soybean cultivation in deforested areas. The company adheres to strict environmental management at its plants (capturing waste heat, recycling water). Impact: The aquaculture industry has been seeking sustainable feeds – Calysta’s product now enables farmers to feed shrimp and fish with protein that didn’t come from the sea or fields, breaking a longstanding resource bottleneck. Each ton of FeedKind can save up to 4 tons of wild fish from being used as feed, helping marine biodiversity. In 2025, China approved FeedKind for use in fish farms, and Calysta began exporting to pet food markets in Europe. The full Chongqing plant capacity (20k tons) will reduce CO₂ emissions by roughly 80% compared to an equivalent soy or fishmeal output (and avoid other impacts like fertilizer runoff and overfishing). Calysta plans to expand capacity 4×, including a future plant in the US, aiming to produce 100,000+ tonnes/year – a scale that could significantly shrink the aquaculture industry’s footprint while meeting the protein needs of a growing population.

Allonnia (USA) – Bio-remediation of “forever chemicals”. Boston-based Allonnia applies biotechnology to clean up industrial waste and pollutants. In 2025, Allonnia was named to TIME’s Top 100 GreenTech list for its breakthroughs in breaking down PFAS “forever chemicals” – some of the most persistent and toxic environmental contaminants. Key innovation: Allonnia has developed special enzymes and microbes capable of detecting and degrading PFAS, which are normally nearly indestructible. It also deploys engineered biological systems to treat heavy metals and organic toxins in wastewater. In July 2025, Allonnia launched SAFF®10, a compact, sustainable PFAS removal unit for smaller sites, bringing state-of-the-art remediation to communities previously unable to afford it. Sustainability commitment: Allonnia focuses on remediation with minimal secondary waste. Its PFAS solutions, for example, concentrate PFAS for safe destruction and leave clean water behind, avoiding simply transferring pollution to landfills. The company’s ethos is “transform waste into value” – whether recovering nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage or breaking down plastics enzymatically. Allonnia also collaborates openly (co-hosting the Bioremediation Symposium 2025) to spread sustainable practices. Impact: PFAS are a public health crisis (linked to cancer and present in water globally); Allonnia’s tech can remove >99% of PFAS on-site and even sense ppt-level contamination with its protein biosensor. By 2025, Allonnia had remediated millions of gallons of water, preventing these “forever” toxins from accumulating in ecosystems and bodies. Its broader projects include biodegrading plastics in landfills and recovering rare metals via bioleaching – efforts that could significantly cut environmental pollution and resource waste. Recognising that some problems (like PFAS) cannot be solved by conventional means alone, Allonnia exemplifies how bio-ingenuity provides new hope for thorny environmental challenges, in line with circular economy and public health goals.

NotCo (Chile) – AI-driven plant-based food revolution. NotCo is a Chilean unicorn food-tech that uses artificial intelligence (“Giuseppe” AI) to formulate plant-based alternatives to animal products with uncanny similarity in taste and texture. By 2025, NotCo had expanded its plant-based milk, mayonnaise, burgers, and chicken across the Americas and was powering co-branded products through a joint venture with Kraft Heinz. Key innovation: NotCo’s AI analyzes thousands of plants to find the optimal combination that mimics animal protein structure and flavour. For example, NotMilk uses cabbage and pineapple extracts to recreate the creamy mouthfeel of dairy. This approach dramatically accelerates R&D – in 2025 NotCo was helping other big food companies develop their own alt-proteins using its AI platform. Sustainability commitment: The raison d’etre of NotCo is to reduce the environmental burden of food. By replacing beef, dairy, and eggs with plant-based versions, NotCo’s products cut GHG emissions and resource use by up to 80–90%. (NotCo reports that a glass of NotMilk has ~74% less CO₂ emissions and 92% less water use than cow’s milk.) All NotCo’s packaging is recyclable, and it prioritises local sourcing of ingredients in each market to lower transport footprint. Impact: NotCo’s popular items – NotMilk, NotBurger, NotMayo – have reached millions of consumers, many in traditionally meat-heavy Latin America, thus mainstreaming climate-friendly diets. The company has saved an estimated 300,000+ tons of CO₂eq since its founding through product sales (as consumers swap out animal products). In 2025, NotCo raised \$85 million to further expand, as its B2B arm began providing AI-designed formulations to giants like Nestlé. This magnifies its impact: a single collaboration can convert a famous product line to plant-based. NotCo shows how the combination of AI and biology can rapidly create delicious sustainable foods, helping shift consumer habits at scale. As of 2025, surveys show 60% of global consumers are open to climate-smart diets – and NotCo’s tasty innovations are making those choices easier, from Chile to the UK.

Below is a comparison table summarising the key information for each of these 25 companies – their country, the main sustainable innovation they delivered in 2025, their core sustainability commitments, and notable impact metrics or achievements:

Note: All impact figures are approximate or annualised for 2025, based on available data and projections from company reports or third-party analyses. CO₂e = carbon dioxide equivalent. GHG = greenhouse gas. PFAS = per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (persistent toxic chemicals). GRAS = Generally Recognized as Safe (FDA regulatory status). SDG = Sustainable Development Goal. ESG = Environmental, Social, Governance criteria.

This diverse group of 25 private companies demonstrates the global momentum in biotech and biopharma toward sustainability. Whether by cutting emissions through bio-based production, creating circular materials, or improving human and ecosystem health, each is delivering innovation with tangible impact in 2025. Together, they are helping reshape industries – from fashion and food to farming and pharma – in line with climate goals and social needs, proving that profitable business and planetary stewardship can go hand in hand.