A bioengineering company called Genomatica reached a milestone that epitomizes this shift from fossil fuels to biology. Genomatica announced it had made a ton of the chemical building block that industry relies on to make nylon-6 using a renewable fermentation approach. Using a synthetic biology approach, Genomatica engineered microorganisms to ferment plant sugars to produce caprolactam, and therefore nylon, in a 100% renewable way.
Genomatica signed a first-of-its-kind deal with Aquafil to build a demonstration-scale facility to produce the most massive quantity of 100% renewable nylon-6 ever available. The deal is a 50-fold expansion over previous production levels. It represents significant acceleration toward commercializing renewably-sourced nylon-6. This material is poised to reshape a $960 billion textile industry that touches millions of lives every day, from the carpet we walk on to the clothes we wear.
This multi-year agreement provides the foundation for a more sustainable nylon value chain by expanding a longstanding Genomatica partnership with major European nylon producer Aquafil. The two companies teamed up in January 2020 to produce the world’s first ton of bio-nylon-6 precursor at a pilot scale.
Relying on their expertise in scaling up renewably-sourced chemicals, Genomatica and Aquafil move directly to a larger-than-typical demonstration scale to support initial commercial applications by committed brand partners. The first production runs are slated to create 50 tons of bio-nylon for Genomatica’s brand partners for pre-commercial use, with the demonstration plant to continue supporting product needs until commercial-scale plants are in operation.
