PHA - Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable, biocompatible polyesters biosynthesized by bacteria from renewable carbon sources. Their physical properties let them replace conventional petrochemical plastics across a wide range of applications.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polyesters in microbiologically active environments and are also biocompatible. They can be biosynthesized by bacteria from various renewable or non-renewable carbon sources, or by genetically modified plants. From an industrial standpoint, bacteria are currently the system of choice and renewable carbon sources the preferred feedstock.

Their physical properties allow PHAs to substitute for conventional petrochemical plastics across a large number of applications, such as disposable packaging, while remaining compatible with standard plastics processing methods. Because they are biocompatible, they also see broad use in the medical field.