What Danimer Scientific does

Danimer Scientific is a biotechnology company that develops and manufactures biodegradable and compostable bioplastics, with its core technology centered on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), marketed under the Nodax™ brand. The company produces PHA via bacterial fermentation using canola oil feedstock, then combines it with PLA through a proprietary reactive extrusion process to create customized resin formulations. This technology platform is supported by 480+ global patents spanning fermentation, reactive extrusion, and thermocatalytic processes, including intellectual property acquired from Procter & Gamble in 2007 (Nodax) and Novomer in 2021. Danimer operates the world's first commercial-scale PHA production facility in Winchester, Kentucky (with Phase 2 completed in 2022) and maintains 100 million pounds of reactive extrusion capacity across its Bainbridge, GA headquarters and Winchester, KY manufacturing footprint. Its product portfolio spans extrusion coatings, film resins, injection molding resins, thermoforming resins, additives, and toll manufacturing services, with aqueous coatings and biobased hot-melt adhesives in development.

Danimer sells directly to converters and brand owners across consumer packaged goods, food-service packaging, agriculture, and government/defense applications. Revenue is generated through three streams: biopolymer resin sales, custom R&D/formulation services, and toll manufacturing. The go-to-market motion is sales-led via the company website, direct outreach, and industry events, with named customers including International Paper (food-service packaging) and government awards from the U.S. Department of Defense. Danimer became a public company on NYSE under ticker DNMR and at one point raised a $210 million PIPE from Apollo and Hermes Investment Management, but it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2025 after reporting a $180M net loss against $53.2M in 2022 revenue, and was acquired by Teknor Apex for approximately $19 million in June 2025.

Name

Danimer Scientific

Legal name

Danimer Scientific

Website

https://danimerscientific.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Danimer Scientific is a biotechnology company that develops and manufactures biodegradable PHA-based biopolymers and custom resin formulations for converters, brand owners, and government customers in packaging, food-service, and defense coatings applications, now operating as a subsidiary of Teknor Apex.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bioplastics

NAICS

Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMAEAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, starch blends) (IMANAAAG), Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMANANAA), Bio-Based & Biodegradable Compounds (PLA/PHA/Starch Blends) (IMANABAF), Compostable & Bio-Based Flexible Packaging (PLA, PHA, Cellulose Films) (IMALABAO)

Keywords

• Biodegradable biopolymers
• PHA production
• Bioplastic resins
• Compostable packaging
• Custom biopolymer formulations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bainbridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Biopolymer Resin Sales: Danimer Scientific manufactures and sells biopolymer resins (PHA/PLA formulations) to converters and brand owners for use in plastic product manufacturing. Resins are sold in formulations tailored to customer-specific applications including extrusion coating, injection molding, thermoforming, and film production.
2. R&D and Custom Formulation Services: The company provides customized research-and-development services for clients seeking specific biopolymer formulations to meet exact performance requirements. Revenue is generated through service fees for bespoke formulation development.
3. Toll Manufacturing Services: Danimer Scientific offers specialty toll-manufacturing services, manufacturing items using customers' own formulations, materials, and instructions, generating revenue on a per-batch or contracted basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Danimer Scientific manufactures and sells biodegradable PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) biopolymers, primarily its flagship Nodax™ PHA produced via bacterial fermentation of canola oil feedstock. The company also offers customized PHA/PLA biopolymer resin formulations produced through a proprietary reactive extrusion process, alongside custom R&D formulation services and toll manufacturing for converters and brand owners.

Product overview

Danimer Scientific is a bioplastics company offering a comprehensive portfolio of biodegradable and compostable polymer products. The core offering centers on Nodax™ PHA, their proprietary polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymer produced via fermentation using canola oil feedstock. The product portfolio includes a family of biopolymers combining PHA and PLA through proprietary reactive extrusion technology, along with specialized product lines including extrusion coatings, extrusion lamination materials, film resins, injection molding resins, and thermoforming resins. Danimer also offers biopolymer additives (processing aids, impact modifiers, color concentrates, chain extenders) to enhance PLA processing. The company provides complementary R&D and toll manufacturing services, with 100 million pounds of reactive extrusion capacity. Products in development include aqueous coatings and hot-melt biobased adhesives. Manufacturing facilities include the world's first commercial PHA plant in Winchester, KY and headquarters in Bainbridge, GA with over 200,000 square feet of labs, manufacturing, and testing space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nodax™ PHA: Danimer Scientific's flagship PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) biopolymer product - a 100% renewable, biodegradable material produced through fermentation using canola oil as feedstock.

Products and services

• Nodax™ PHA Biopolymer Danimer Scientific's flagship polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer, produced through a fermentation process using canola oil as feedstock. Nodax™ is 100% renewable, biodegradable in marine, freshwater, soil, home compost, and industrial compost environments, and FDA approved for food contact. Sold to converters and brand owners for use in plastic product manufacturing.
• Custom Biopolymer Resin Formulations (PHA/PLA) Custom biopolymer resins created through Danimer's proprietary reactive extrusion process by blending and chemically reacting PHA and PLA biopolymers. Formulations are tailored for extrusion coating, injection molding, thermoforming, and film production. Sold directly to converters and brand owners.
• Research and Development Services Customized R&D services for clients seeking biopolymer formulations that meet exact performance requirements. Includes formulation development, application testing, and technical consulting, with revenue generated through service fees for bespoke formulation development.
• Toll Manufacturing Services Specialty toll manufacturing services in which Danimer manufactures items using customers' own formulations, materials, and instructions. Backed by 100 million pounds of reactive extrusion capacity; revenue is generated on a per-batch or contracted basis.
• Extrusion Coating Resins Compostable PLA-based extrusion coating resin designed for coating paper, paperboard, and fabric. Provides adhesion, food-contact safety, and ASTM compostability certification for converters producing food packaging and food-service applications.
• Extrusion Lamination Materials Renewable extrusion lamination resins used as tie layers between dissimilar films or materials in sustainable packaging. Food-contact certified and supports compostability standards for packaging converters.
• Compostable Film Resins Compostable biopolymer film resins for blown film applications including agricultural films, carryout bags, trash bags, landscaping films, greenhouse films, and food-service packaging. Certified to ASTM D6400-99 or D6868-03 standards.
• Injection Molding Resins Certified compostable injection molding resins for single-use cutlery, coffee pods, landscaping stakes, caps, and food packaging. Processable at lower temperatures than traditional polyolefin.
• Thermoforming Resins Compostable biopolymer resins for thermoformed articles including cup lids, drinking cups, food-service containers, and horticultural pots. Certifiable to ASTM D6400-99 or D6868-03 standards.
• Biopolymer Additives Proprietary biopolymer additives including processing aids, impact modifiers, color concentrates, and chain extenders designed to improve the mechanical and rheological properties of PLA during processing.
• PHA Manufacturing Capacity (Winchester, KY Facility) World's first commercial PHA production facility located in Winchester, Kentucky. Phase 2 completed in 2022 more than tripled production capacity, providing commercial-scale fermentation-based PHA manufacturing capacity.

Quantifiable outcome

• PHA biodegrades completely within 3 months in various environments, leaving behind only carbon dioxide, water, and biomass — unlike petrochemical plastics that persist for centuries.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• University of GeorgiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanimer Scientific operates a joint laboratory at the University of Georgia, which includes one chemistry lab and one microbiology lab. This partnership gives the company access to unique university resources and researchers, expanding its R&D capabilities.
• NatureWorks LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn its early years, Danimer Scientific partnered with NatureWorks to develop a corn-based PLA resin to line hot-beverage paper cups, including the Ecotainer line of food-service packaging materials for International Paper Company. This historical partnership contributed to Danimer's development of biopolymer technology.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NatureWorks: NatureWorks is the world's largest PLA bioplastic producer (Ingeo™ PLA), a Cargill/PTT Global Chemical joint venture. It directly competes with Danimer in compostable packaging, food-service, and film resins, and was Danimer's historical PLA development partner.
• TotalEnergies Corbion: TotalEnergies Corbion is a 50/50 joint venture producing Luminy® PLA from sugarcane. It is a direct competitor in bio-based, compostable polymers for packaging, durables, and 3D printing, with comparable downstream processing claims.
• Novamont: Novamont is an Italian bioplastics producer (Mater-Bi® starch/PBAT blends). It competes with Danimer in compostable packaging, food-service applications, and agricultural mulch films, particularly in European markets with strict single-use plastic regulations.
• Kaneka: Kaneka produces PHBH (a PHA copolymer) under the Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer brand. It directly competes with Danimer's Nodax™ PHA in compostable packaging, marine biodegradation applications, and agricultural films in Asia and Europe.

Broad incumbents

• BASF: BASF offers ecovio® and Ecoflex® (PLA/PBAT compostable blends) as part of its broader performance chemicals portfolio. It competes with Danimer in compostable packaging and mulch films while also serving as a petrochemical alternative incumbent.
• Braskem: Braskem produces I'm green™ bio-based polyethylene from Brazilian sugarcane. It is a broad incumbent in bio-based polymers competing with Danimer for CPG brand sustainability commitments, though Braskem's bio-PE is not biodegradable like PHA.

Emerging players

• CJ CheilJedang: CJ CheilJedang (CJ BIO) is scaling PHA production through fermentation expertise from its amino acids business. It is an emerging PHA competitor targeting similar packaging, coating, and agricultural film markets with potentially lower fermentation costs at scale.
• TianAn Biopolymer: TianAn Biopolymer (a joint venture including Sinopec) produces ENMAT™ PHBV, a PHA copolymer. It is an emerging PHA competitor focused on packaging and 3D printing applications, with direct overlap to Danimer's product portfolio.
• Yield10 Bioscience (formerly Metabolix): Yield10 (formerly Metabolix, the original PHA developer) is now focused on yield traits in commodity crops, but its historical PHA intellectual property and capacity make it a relevant adjacent peer in the PHA competitive landscape.

Others

• Teknor Apex: Teknor Apex is Danimer Scientific's parent company (acquired June 2025). It is a specialty compounder of PVC, TPE, and engineering thermoplastics, and is relevant as the strategic owner commercializing Danimer's PHA technology through its global sales channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/danimersci
• Facebookfacebook.com/danimersci
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/danimerscientific

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds10 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Danimer Scientific