Top 10 Companies in the Biodegradable Microsphere Industry (2025): Market Leaders Pioneering Sustainable Solutions

In Business Insights
November 22, 2025


The Global Biodegradable Microsphere Market was valued at USD 2.85 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 5.41 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.6% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This significant growth is fueled by increasing environmental regulations, a global shift toward sustainable materials, and rising demand from key end-use industries such as medical technology, cosmetics, and advanced composites.

As industries worldwide intensify their focus on reducing environmental footprints and enhancing product functionality, biodegradable microspheres are emerging as a critical enabling technology. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Biodegradable Microsphere Industry—a dynamic mix of chemical giants, specialized manufacturers, and innovation leaders shaping the future of sustainable materials.


🔟 1. 3M Company

Headquarters: Maplewood, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Glass Bubbles, Ceramic Microspheres, Polymeric Microspheres

3M is a global science company and a pioneer in microsphere technology, offering a diverse portfolio of lightweight, high-strength filler materials. Their biodegradable variants are engineered for applications requiring controlled density, thermal insulation, and environmental compatibility, serving industries from automotive composites to personal care.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050
  • Advanced R&D in bio-based and degradable polymer microspheres
  • Product lifecycle assessments to minimize environmental impact

Download FREE Sample Report: Biodegradable Microsphere Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. AkzoNobel N.V.

Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Key Offering: Expancel® Expandable Microspheres

AkzoNobel, through its Expancel brand, is a world leader in expandable microspheres. These thermoplastic microspheres are used as lightweight fillers and blowing agents. The company is actively developing formulations with improved biodegradability profiles to meet evolving regulatory and consumer demands for sustainable products in coatings and sealants.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Targeting 100% eco-premium solutions in its portfolio
  • Investment in renewable and recycled raw materials for microsphere production

8️⃣ 3. Potters Industries LLC (a member of the PQ Corporation)

Headquarters: Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Offering: Spherical Glass and Ceramic Microspheres

Potters Industries is a leading global supplier of spherical glass and ceramic materials. While historically focused on inert spheres, the company is investing in R&D for novel biodegradable formulations, particularly for biomedical applications like drug delivery and tissue engineering scaffolds, where controlled degradation is paramount.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of soluble glass microspheres for targeted medical applications
  • Focus on reducing energy consumption in manufacturing processes

7️⃣ 4. Luminex Corporation

Headquarters: Austin, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Fluorescently Coded Microspheres for Bioassays

Luminex specializes in bead-based multiplexing assays for the life sciences and diagnostic industries. Their proprietary xMAP® technology uses internally dyed microspheres. The company is exploring biodegradable polymer substrates for next-generation diagnostic beads to reduce plastic waste in laboratory settings.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • R&D into PLA (Polylactic Acid) and PHA-based microspheres for in-vitro diagnostics
  • Partnerships with research institutes on sustainable biomaterials

Download FREE Sample Report: Biodegradable Microsphere Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Trelleborg AB

Headquarters: Trelleborg, Sweden
Key Offering: Polymer Microspheres for Composites and Coatings

Trelleborg’s engineered coated fabrics and seals divisions utilize advanced microsphere technology to create lightweight, high-performance materials. The company is leveraging its polymer expertise to develop biodegradable microspheres that maintain performance while offering end-of-life environmental benefits, particularly in marine and automotive composites.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Integration of circular economy principles into product design
  • Active participation in industry consortia for sustainable material standards

5️⃣ 6. Chase Corporation

Headquarters: Westwood, Massachusetts, USA
Key Offering: Microsphere Additives for Electronic and Industrial Coatings

Chase Corporation provides specialty tapes, laminates, and coatings, utilizing microspheres to achieve specific dielectric and mechanical properties. The company is investing in R&D for bio-based microsphere alternatives to serve the growing market for environmentally friendly electronic encapsulation and protective coatings.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of halogen-free and bio-based material solutions
  • Focus on enhancing the recyclability of composite materials

4️⃣ 7. Matsumoto Yushi-Seiyaku Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: Microsphere Masters and Expancel Microspheres under license

As a key player in the Asia-Pacific region, Matsumoto Yushi-Seiyaku manufactures and markets expandable microspheres. The company is focusing on creating specialty grades with improved environmental profiles, catering to the stringent sustainability requirements of the Japanese and broader Asian markets in cosmetics and advanced materials.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of microspheres compatible with bio-based polymers
  • Commitment to reducing VOC emissions from microsphere-containing products

3️⃣ 8. Cospheric LLC

Headquarters: Santa Barbara, California, USA
Key Offering: Precision Microspheres for Research and Development

Cospheric is a specialty manufacturer providing meticulously calibrated microspheres for R&D applications across various industries, including medical device testing and cosmetics. They offer a range of biodegradable polymers like PLA and PVA, providing researchers with the tools to develop next-generation sustainable products.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Specialization in custom biodegradable microspheres for academic and industrial R&D
  • Promotion of material science advancements for green technology

2️⃣ 9. Microchem

Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
Key Offering: High-Purity Polymer Microspheres for Medical and Cosmetic Use

Microchem specializes in the production of monodisperse, pharmaceutical-grade polymer particles. Their focus on biocompatible and biodegradable materials, such as PLGA (Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)), makes them a critical supplier for controlled drug delivery systems and advanced cosmetic formulations in the European market.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Expertise in GMP-grade biodegradable polymers for healthcare
  • Commitment to solvent-free and green chemistry manufacturing processes where possible

1️⃣ 10. Sinomolecular Science

Headquarters: Nanjing, China
Key Offering: PLGA, PLA, and PHA-based Microspheres for Drug Delivery

Sinomolecular Science is a leading Chinese company focused on the research, development, and production of biodegradable polymeric materials for pharmaceutical applications. They are a key supplier of bioresorbable microspheres used in embolization therapies and sustained-release drug formulations, supporting the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific biomedical sector.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Pioneering the domestic Chinese production of pharmaceutical-grade biodegradable polymers
  • Strong focus on R&D to reduce the cost and environmental impact of medical-grade microspheres

Get Full Report Here: Biodegradable Microsphere Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Biodegradable Microspheres Is Functional and Sustainable

The biodegradable microsphere market is at a pivotal juncture. While traditional plastic microspheres face increasing bans and consumer backlash, the industry is rapidly innovating to provide high-performance, environmentally responsible alternatives that do not compromise on functionality.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Stringent global regulations phasing out non-biodegradable microplastics in cosmetics and personal care
  • Accelerated adoption of biodegradable microspheres in drug delivery and tissue engineering
  • Advancements in biopolymer science, enabling tailored degradation rates and release profiles
  • Growing demand from the composites industry for lightweight, sustainable fillers

Get Full Report Here: Biodegradable Microsphere Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying innovative materials—they are fundamentally enabling a sustainable transition across multiple global industries.