# Bluepha (蓝晶微生物)
Bluepha (蓝晶微生物, Bluepha Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese synthetic-biology company founded in October 2016, headquartered in Hongkou District, Shanghai, that produces PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a family of biodegradable, marine-degradable bioplastics, by microbial fermentation, and was still operating at its latest independently dated event in June 2024.[1](https://www.bluepha.com/aboutus) Its co-founders are Dr. [Zhang Haoqian](https://www.edgepedia.org/zhang-haoqian-bluepha-co-founder) and Dr. [Li Teng](https://www.edgepedia.org/li-teng), and the company has raised roughly RMB 2 billion across venture rounds, including a cumulative RMB 1.5 billion Series B completed in January 2022.[2](https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827) • [3](https://ir.sihuanpharm.com/en/investor-relations/latest-news/investor-news/establishment-of-joint-venture-with-bluepha-co-ltd/)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 2016, by Dr. Zhang Haoqian and Dr. Li Teng[1](https://www.bluepha.com/aboutus) • [2](https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827) |
| Headquarters | Hongkou District, Shanghai; R&D center of 12,000 square meters[1](https://www.bluepha.com/aboutus) |
| Sector | Synthetic biology; PHA biodegradable biomaterials[4](https://www.bluepha-en.com/post/bluepha-officially-launches-2-grades-natural-pha-materials-to-realize-a-phabulous-blend-with-nature) |
| Series B | RMB 1.5 billion cumulative, completed January 2022[3](https://ir.sihuanpharm.com/en/investor-relations/latest-news/investor-news/establishment-of-joint-venture-with-bluepha-co-ltd/) |
| B4 round | Over RMB 400 million, led by Zhongping Capital, early 2023, plus RMB 500 million bank credit lines[2](https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827) |
| Production | BioFAB1, Yancheng, Jiangsu: 5,000 tonnes/year, trial production January 2023[2](https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827) • [4](https://www.bluepha-en.com/post/bluepha-officially-launches-2-grades-natural-pha-materials-to-realize-a-phabulous-blend-with-nature) |
| Status | Operating; latest dated event June 2024 (Shanghai Carbon Expo with Master Kong)[5](https://www.bluepha.com/blog/kangshifu) |
## What Bluepha makes
Bluepha's commercial product is Bluepha PHA, a marine degradable biopolymer.[4](https://www.bluepha-en.com/post/bluepha-officially-launches-2-grades-natural-pha-materials-to-realize-a-phabulous-blend-with-nature) On March 1, 2023 the company launched its first commercial portfolio in two grades: BP350, a flexible grade with high comonomer content, and BP330, a rigid grade with low comonomer content.[4](https://www.bluepha-en.com/post/bluepha-officially-launches-2-grades-natural-pha-materials-to-realize-a-phabulous-blend-with-nature)
The company describes its method as combining genetic engineering, fermentation engineering, material science, and data science to industrialize bio-based chemicals and materials.[6](https://www.bluepha-en.com/about-us)
## Founding and early history
Bluepha was founded in 2016 by scientists from [Tsinghua University](https://www.edgepedia.org/tsinghua-university) and [Peking University](https://www.edgepedia.org/peking-university).[6](https://www.bluepha-en.com/about-us)
## Funding and investors
Bluepha's Series B was raised in three tranches totaling RMB 1.5 billion:[3](https://ir.sihuanpharm.com/en/investor-relations/latest-news/investor-news/establishment-of-joint-venture-with-bluepha-co-ltd/) • [7](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3028717/china-biosynthesis-start-up-bluepha-raises-usd58m)
- **B1, February 2021:** CNY 200 million, led by GL Ventures and [Lightspeed China Partners](https://www.edgepedia.org/lightspeed-china-partners).[7](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3028717/china-biosynthesis-start-up-bluepha-raises-usd58m)
- **B2, August 2021:** CNY 430 million (USD 66.4 million), led by Country Garden Venture Capital.[8](https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-bioplastics-maker-bluepha-lands-usd664-million-in-series-b2-fundraiser)
- **B3, January 2022:** reported as CNY 800 million by AVCJ[7](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3028717/china-biosynthesis-start-up-bluepha-raises-usd58m) and as RMB 870 million (USD 137 million) by Global Venturing, which put cumulative Series B funding at about USD 235 million; the round was co-led by Genesis Capital and the China State-Owned Enterprises Mixed Ownership Reform Fund, with Country Garden Venture Capital, Zhongping Capital, Frees Fund, and Trinity Innovation Fund among investors.[9](https://globalventuring.com/corporate/bluepha-manufactures-137m/) The two trade outlets' figures for the B3 tranche have not been reconciled.
In early 2023 Bluepha completed a B4 round of over RMB 400 million led by Zhongping Capital with Jiangsu Huanghai Financial Holding Group participating, and banks including SPD Silicon Valley Bank, China Merchants Bank, and ICBC extended a cumulative RMB 500 million credit line, together nearly RMB 1 billion in new funding after B3.[2](https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827) AVCJ reported the B4 tranche as CNY 400 million (USD 58 million).[7](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3028717/china-biosynthesis-start-up-bluepha-raises-usd58m)
The company's own About page states it has completed nearly RMB 1.3 billion in financing, a figure inconsistent with the RMB 1.5 billion Series B plus B4 documented in independent and primary sources; the page appears not to have been updated after the B4 round.[1](https://www.bluepha.com/aboutus) Taken together, the verified record implies roughly RMB 2 billion or more raised in equity.[3](https://ir.sihuanpharm.com/en/investor-relations/latest-news/investor-news/establishment-of-joint-venture-with-bluepha-co-ltd/) • [2](https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827)
## Manufacturing and traction
Bluepha's production base is BioFAB1 in Yancheng, Jiangsu. In January 2023 the phase-one plant, designed for 5,000 tonnes of PHA per year, successfully completed trial production, moving the PHA line into commercialization.[2](https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827)
Capacity plans have grown over time. At the B2 round in 2021, the Yancheng project was planned at 100,000 tonnes per year across three phases, with the first 5,000-tonne phase due online by 2022.[8](https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-bioplastics-maker-bluepha-lands-usd664-million-in-series-b2-fundraiser) The company's launch announcement describes a planned BioFAB2 that would bring total capacity to 25,000 tonnes per year.[4](https://www.bluepha-en.com/post/bluepha-officially-launches-2-grades-natural-pha-materials-to-realize-a-phabulous-blend-with-nature) Its English site now presents the Yancheng site as having an annual PHA capacity of 25,000 tonnes, a company claim that independent reporting has not confirmed; the last independently dated reporting, from January 2023, confirms only the 5,000 t/y phase one.[6](https://www.bluepha-en.com/about-us) • [2](https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827)
Named partnerships indicate traction in two markets beyond commodity packaging. On January 19, 2022, Sihuan Pharmaceutical's (00460.HK) subsidiary MeiYan KongJian agreed to establish a joint venture with Bluepha to develop PHA microspheres and biomanufacturing-based regenerative medical materials.[3](https://ir.sihuanpharm.com/en/investor-relations/latest-news/investor-news/establishment-of-joint-venture-with-bluepha-co-ltd/) In consumer goods, Bluepha and instant-noodle maker Master Kong appeared together at the Shanghai Carbon Expo, June 5 to 8, 2024, showcasing PHA produced from waste frying oil, a process the companies say cuts carbon footprint by about 45% versus fresh-oil feedstock; pilot-scale process development for this route was complete at the time.[5](https://www.bluepha.com/blog/kangshifu)
## References
1. 关于我们 - 蓝晶微生物 (company About page), https://www.bluepha.com/aboutus
2. 穿越合成生物学「死亡谷」，蓝晶微生物新获近10亿元资金加持, 36Kr, https://m.36kr.com/p/2132474994797827
3. Sihuan Pharmaceutical — Establishment of Joint Venture with Bluepha Co., Ltd., https://ir.sihuanpharm.com/en/investor-relations/latest-news/investor-news/establishment-of-joint-venture-with-bluepha-co-ltd/
4. Bluepha Officially Launches 2 Grades Natural PHA Materials (company press release), https://www.bluepha-en.com/post/bluepha-officially-launches-2-grades-natural-pha-materials-to-realize-a-phabulous-blend-with-nature
5. 蓝晶微生物携手康师傅亮相2024上海碳博会 (company press release), https://www.bluepha.com/blog/kangshifu
6. About Us | Bluepha (company English site), https://www.bluepha-en.com/about-us
7. China biosynthesis start-up Bluepha raises $58m, AVCJ, https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3028717/china-biosynthesis-start-up-bluepha-raises-usd58m
8. China's Bioplastics Maker Bluepha Lands USD66.4 Million in Series B2 Fundraiser, Yicai Global, https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-bioplastics-maker-bluepha-lands-usd664-million-in-series-b2-fundraiser
9. Bluepha manufactures $137m in series B3 funding, Global Venturing, https://globalventuring.com/corporate/bluepha-manufactures-137m/
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Business and work › Business and work overview › Companies and corporations › Venture-backed startups and growth companies › Health, biotech, and medtech startups*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 11, 2026 · Last review: Sep 18, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license