Genomatica produces the world’s first ton of renewable nylon intermediate
Type of post: NEWS.
Eighty years after nylon’s first commercial
production, Genomatica achieved a new
milestone for the material: the production of the world’s first ton of the key intermediate
(caprolactam) for nylon-6 from plants instead of crude oil. With the rise of
fast fashion and the ongoing demand for nylon-based products, more sustainably
sourced nylon ingredients are essential to reducing the industry’s
environmental impacts.
Press release: “Genomatica
Hits Industry-First Milestone in Nylon Sustainability”, 29/1/2020.
Video: “Remaking
nylon”.
Related post: “Aquafil and Genomatica come together
to develop sustainable caprolactam for bio-nylon products”, 25/8/2016.
Figure 1. Genomatica
produced a ton of renewable nylon intermediate at ACIES BIO in Slovenia (extracted
from the press release)
Genomatica’s technology to make biobased nylon
is made possible by fermentation. The company engineered a microorganism and
production process that ferments the sugars found in plants to make the
chemical intermediate for nylon-6. This new milestone marks the successful
scaling of the process. The intermediate is then converted into nylon-6 polymer
chips and yarn by Aquafil in Slovenia.
EFFECTIVE project
Several global partners have played a key role
in accelerating Genomatica’s bio-nylon program. Aquafil
was the first to join the program, bringing funding support and
nylon-related chemical, quality and market expertise. Additionally, EFFECTIVE project, a consortium
with 12 partners including major brands like H&M, Vaude, Carvico and
Balsan, was formed to drive the production of more sustainable bio-based fibers
for widely-used consumer products made from renewable feedstocks.
Biobased nylon market
Nylon is responsible for an estimated 60
million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year through traditional
production which begins with crude oil. Genomatica’s innovation, alongside
partner and major European nylon producer Aquafil, will produce 100%
renewably-sourced nylon that delivers equivalent performance to the
conventional nylon but with lower environmental impact. This bio-based nylon
has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a 10,000 M$ global
industry that produces over five million tons of nylon-6 per year, to make
carpet, clothing, car interiors, engineered plastics and food packaging.
Statement
Christophe Schilling (CEO of Genomatica) “Nylon a
terrific material, and now, with the power of biotechnology, we can reinvent
where it comes from. This is a major step forward in offering a new, more
sustainable future with a better nylon for the full range of industries it
serves.”
