Top Chitosan manufacturer in APAC 2025

BIO21

Precision-Engineered Chitosan for the World’s MostDemanding Applications

In the race to develop safer, smarter, and more sustainable health solutions, one company has redefinedwhat’s possible with chitosan.

BIO21, operating from a GMP, HACCP, FDA-approved, EU-certified facility in Indonesia in partnership withPT. Fresh On Time Seafood, controls every stage from ocean harvest to molecular-level formulation. Thisrare vertical integration, combined with advanced R&D expertise, has made the company a trusted partnerfor life science innovators across Europe, North America, and Japan.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Thailand, BIO21’s vertically integrated model is its greatest strength.From harvesting snow crab shells in deep-sea, low-pollution environments to delivering medical-gradechitosan, BIO21 controls every stage of the journey. Few suppliers can match its commitment to double rawmaterial checks—first for seafood fit for human consumption, then again for suitability as a pharmaceutical-grade biopolymer.

The company’s approach ensures every batch meets the highest safety and purity standards. But BIO21’scompetitive edge goes far beyond compliance. Its research and development team specializes inengineering chitosan at the molecular level.

Critical parameters such as degree of deacetylation, molecular weight, viscosity, and chitosan type (alpha or beta) are precisely tailored to meetthe functional, clinical, and regulatory needs of each client. The capacity for fine-tuning is not common in the industry, and it has made BIO21 atrusted partner for high-stakes applications.

One example of BIO21’s problem-solving ability can be seen in its work with a medical device company developing a next-generationhemostatic dressing. The client needed biodegradable polymer materials that could pass rigorous EU and FDA standards. BIO21 respondedwith a custom formulation, carefully optimizing molecular weight, viscosity, and purity to meet exact specifications. Beyond supplying thematerial, the company actively supported the testing process and helped streamline regulatory documentation, leading to faster approval and asmoother product launch.

The company’s innovation pipeline is equally notable in the nutraceutical space. Its L112 Biopolymer, developed through close R&Dcollaboration, is designed to support cardiovascular health and fat reduction. Projects like this show how BIO21 transforms raw scientificexpertise into real-world, market-ready performance.

BIO21’s leadership extends to sustainability, which is treated as a core design principle rather than a marketing afterthought. Chitosan itself isderived from food industry by-products, turning waste into a high-value material. Yet the company goes further.

"  We are not just chasing financial returns. Our aim is to create products that helpour clients succeed while delivering benefits for humanity and the environment "

Sunlight-powered greenhouse drying replaces energy-intensive equipment, wastewater is treated internally before reuse, and protein andcalcium by-products are recycled into agricultural applications. Airborne particles from grinding are captured through advanced filtration toprotect both employees and the environment.

Helping Deliver Benefits for Humanity and the Environment

The company is also developing chitosan-based alternatives to single-use plastics, on-demand fertilizers that reduce nutrient runoff, livestockfeed additives to improve feed conversion rates, and water treatment applications for cleaner communities. Each of these projects combinescommercial viability with tangible environmental benefits, reflecting BIO21’s belief that innovation must serve both humanity and the planet.

 Compliance is another area where BIO21 sets itself apart. Its processes meet the requirements ofRegulation (EU) No. 722/2012, which governs medical device risk management and disease prevention.Precision-engineered deacetylation tanks ensure uniform heat distribution, and Class 100K clean-roomgrinding facilities maintain strict contamination control. Every detail is designed to deliver consistency,safety, and long-term quality.

Kasem Pansa-nga, BIO21’s (Thailand) and PT. Fresh On Time Seafood's (Indonesia) Chitosan Project  Manager, describes the company’sguiding philosophy: “We are not just chasing financial returns. Our aim is to create products that help our clients succeed while deliveringbenefits for humanity and the environment.”

Precision. Responsibility. Partnership.

With clients in the EU, USA, and Japan, BIO21’s reputation continues to grow internationally. Its model—rooted in technical mastery, vertical integration, and sustainability—positions it as more than a supplier. Itis a partner in innovation, a guardian of quality, and a force for responsible progress in the global lifesciences industry.

In a market crowded with generic claims, BIO21’s record speaks for itself. By controlling every step fromocean harvest to molecular design, and by embedding sustainability into both operations and products, thecompany has built a profile no competitor can replicate. BIO21’s story is not just about producing chitosan—it is about redefining what abiopolymer company can achieve when precision, responsibility, and partnership drive every decision.