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When we think of biotechnology, it is easy to think of pharmaceuticals
.
But the best explanation for the bioeconomy is to turn biomass materials into an industry and plants into products
.
In the 21st century, consumers are increasingly demanding products that reflect their more sustainable values and life>
.
Now there's just one conundrum: Which producers have the vision to lead this biomanufacturing revolution?
Recently, a bioengineering company called Genomatica reached a milestone that encapsulates this transition from fossil fuels to biology
.
Why is bio-nylon important?
Why is bio-nylon important?First, it's an economic opportunity
.
Second, this is the need for environmental protection
.
Genomatica uses synthetic biology methods to engineer microbes to ferment plant sugars in a 100% renewable manner to produce caprolactam, which in turn produces nylon
.
"One of the concepts is that in order to be sustainable, we have to find completely new materials," Schilling said
.
Well-known brands are going bio
Well-known brands are going bioGenomatica hopes to supply sustainable nylon to brands such as H&M, Vaude and Carvico through a partnership with Aquaqua, one of the world's largest nylon producers
.
Aquafil's ECONYL nylon brand takes old fishing nets, textile waste and other forms of nylon waste and turns it into new yarn as good as the original
.
Aquafil sees the recycling process as a new opportunity for the fashion and furniture industries, as well as a way to protect the environment
.
"It's very important for us to have a real connection with the consumer brand,
" Schilling said
.
As a technology innovator, Genomatica believes that the success of a product depends on acceptance in all aspects of the value chain
.
To this end, Aquafil is the best partner, "consumer brands can seize the opportunity and share our great story with customers, and ultimately succeed
.
"
The initial production of one ton of chemical precursors is a small but significant milestone, with the next target being a commercial-scale level of 30,000-100,000 tons per year, Schilling said
.
A Sustainability Pioneer in Bio-Nylon
A Sustainability Pioneer in Bio-Nylon"What really sets Genomatica apart is our ability to scale, knowing everything from ideation to commercial realization," Schilling said
.
Nylon is Genomatica's third large-scale synthetic biology product to market, and its experience in the field will surely help accelerate the transition from lab to market
.
Genomatica's first major success was 1,4-butanediol, commonly known as BDO
.
The chemical is used to make plastics, spandex and polyurethane, and can be found in everything from plastic bags to spandex
.
The world produces about 2.
5 million tons of BDO annually, at about $2,000 per ton, and the market size is billions of dollars
.
In 2012, Genomatica achieved a breakthrough in chemical engineering by producing bio-based BDO in a cost-competitive fermentation process on a commercial scale
.
Bio-BDO is 100% bio-based and biodegradable and can be used in sports apparel, running shoes, electronics and automotive applications
.
The second successful project was a chemical called 1,3-butanediol
.
Few people realize it, but many of our everyday personal care and beauty products are derived from crude oil
.
In early 2019, Genomatica announced the first commercial production of Brontide (the brand name for its chemical), which is made from natural plant sugars
.
As more and more people strive to choose products that align with our personal values, products made with Brontide rather than fossil fuel derivatives offer consumers a more environmentally friendly option
.
Taken together, there are now bio-based alternatives available for the manufacture of everything from fuels to electronics, shoes to cosmetics
.
It also reminds us how dependent we are on petrochemicals in our daily lives
.
Are bio-based chemical materials inevitable?
Are bio-based chemical materials inevitable?“In terms of performance, our number one goal is to make sure the material provides the exact same performance as conventional or petroleum-derived nylon
.
That’s what we do with BDO and butanediol,
” explains Schilling.
“When you have these When there is a large existing market, it is imperative to ensure that the same specification chemistry provides the same quality
.
”
Bio-based alternatives can offer another advantage over fossil materials: In some cases, they perform better
.
For example, heavy metals are catalysts for the extraction of butanediol from crude oil
.
In the final product, small amounts of heavy metals remain
.
"With biofabrication, we don't need catalysts, and we don't need chemical treatments to achieve different purities very efficiently," Schilling said
.
The argument for a sustainable, bio-based approach to material precursors is strong
.
Through a relatively simple fermentation process, biology has shown time and time again that it can produce everything petroleum-based, providing precise, reproducible production of key compounds
.
Bio-based caprolactam is another proof
.
All the while, the sticking point has been low industry adoption
.
Industry leaders in the value chain need to source and support the expansion of sustainable and renewable bio-based components to accelerate their integration into various end products
.
Consumers need them, manufacturers can use them, and most importantly, the planet needs them
.
