Policy and reports

Biotech Act II (EU): Addressing cross-cutting challenges and establishing an enabling regulatory framework for industrial biotechnology and biomanufacturing

BBIA Consultation Response: UK Fertilisers Regulatory Reform (UK FPR)

The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy aims to position the country as a global leader in technology-driven innovation by 2035, with engineering biology identified as a key growth sector capable of transforming industries such as beauty and personal care through sustainable, bio-based production. While the UK is well placed to lead this transition, regulatory complexity, high costs, and limited domestic supply chains are slowing progress. This report highlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and five priority actions are recommended.

The UK is at a critical point in developing its engineering biology sector, with advances creating new opportunities across multiple industries. Yet a common claim persists: that limited scale-up infrastructure is the main barrier to market. This report challenges that view. Drawing on industry insights and survey data, it finds that while fermentation and downstream capacity matter, the real barriers to commercialisation are broader—spanning investment, coordination, and the link from research to industry.

Modern society depends on packaging to store, protect, and transport goods at scale, supporting essential systems such as food supply, healthcare, and e-commerce, while reducing damage, contamination, and waste. However, most packaging remains fossil-based and short-lived, generating significant waste and emissions; with the UK producing around 12 million tonnes annually and recycling rates still limited, policy misalignment and higher costs for bio-based alternatives risk slowing innovation, investment, and the transition to a more sustainable circular economy.

Over £3 billion has flowed into the UK bio-based sector since 2008 — but scaling the industry remains the next major challenge.

2025 has been a defining year for BBIA and for the UK’s modern industrial bioeconomy. As global momentum for bio-based solutions accelerates, BBIA’s role as a convenor, evidence-builder, and trusted voice has become more important than ever.

This Annual Report sets out how BBIA has delivered against its four core pillars – Influence, Innovate, Connect, and Communicate – during 2025, and the foundations laid for 2026 and beyond as we work towards a resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive UK bioeconomy.

𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙆’𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙞𝙤𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮 — BBIA’s White Paper outlining how the UK can scale bio-based chemicals and materials into a £204bn annual industry.

𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆.

The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy aims to position the nation as a global leader in technology-driven innovation by 2035, with Engineering Biology at its core, representing a £30 trillion global bioeconomy opportunity. However, this report highlights that outdated and fragmented regulations are stifling bio-based innovation, costing SMEs millions in lost value and jobs, and risking the UK’s competitiveness unless a clear, proportionate, and science-led regulatory framework is established.

As England prepares for the rollout of Simpler Recycling, the University of Birmingham Plastics Network, in consultation with experts from RECOUP, the UK’s leading independent authority and trusted voice on plastics resource efficiency and recycling, and the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA), has conducted an analysis of the challenges that the implementation of simpler recycling will have on plastics circularity. Simpler Recycling (SR) aims to help meet the UK Government’s target of 65% recycling by 2035.

This report outlines outputs from the event, including key challenges and opportunities, and the collective
actions needed to build a secure, sustainable, and future-ready bio-based economy in the UK.