Genomatica (Geno; San Diego) announced that it has entered into a new partnership with Sojitz Corp. (Toyko) to significantly accelerate the commercialization of plant-based nylon-6 based on Geno’s underlying proprietary technology. Sojitz has made a strategic financial investment to accelerate time-to-market, while also contributing its commercial and business expertise.
Nylon-6 is one of the most widely used materials in the world. Traditionally produced from fossil-derived carbon sources or recycled materials, it can be found in a broad range of everyday products including outdoor gear, apparel, military materials, and automotive components. Geno’s proprietary technology enables 100% renewable carbon-based nylon-6.
“At Sojitz, we believe real progress comes from challenging the status quo. Geno has been a leader in industrial biomanufacturing, continuously striving for innovation, and we look forward to working together with Geno to actively reshape the future of this sector with materials that are both commercially viable and globally responsible,” said Mitsutoshi Takagi, General Manager of Environment and Life Science Department at Sojitz. “The Chemicals Division is actively promoting the development and trade of bio-based chemicals. Leveraging our expertise and global network, Sojitz will further accelerate the development of the world’s first plant-based nylon-6 business.”
“Through this collaboration with Sojitz, we’re advancing our mission to enable cost-competitive production of plant-based nylon-6 at industrial scale. This material will be a drop-in replacement for nylon-6 that has traditionally been produced from petroleum-based feedstocks,” said John Gugel, CEO of Geno. “Our collaboration with Sojitz and our other existing partners aims to accelerate commercialization of Geno’s breakthrough technology to provide consumers, and the major brands who serve them, with high-performance materials that are produced from traceable and renewable sources of carbon.”
Geno will seek to collaboratively establish a consortium of industry leaders focused on creating a separate entity for the flagship commercial plant with Sojitz. This investment and partnership are part of Sojitz’s long-term “Sustainability Challenge,” a vision to drive sustainable growth for the company and society by advancing decarbonization across its businesses. More information about Sojitz Chemical Division’s business activities can be found on their website.
Geno and Aquafil [ECNL:IM] have successfully partnered to produce 100% renewably sourced, plant-based nylon-6 and plan to continue pre-commercial plant operations to further demonstrate the bioprocess technology and assess plant-based nylon. The multi-tons of material will undergo testing in various established nylon-6 applications. Previous applications include a collaboration with lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) including for their 2023 Earth Day campaign, as well as several final products presented through Project Effective, such as those by H&M and Vaude.
Plant-based nylon-6 is merely one of several product lines that Geno is driving on a path to commercialization at industrial scale. Geno also invented, scaled up, and engineered the GENO™ Bio-BDO process now being used by Qore at its new renewable BDO manufacturing facility in Iowa. The plant, part of a joint venture between Cargill and HELM, is the world’s largest manufacturing site using GENO™ Bio-BDO (1,4-butanediol) and will help leading brands replace their fossil-based chemistries with more sustainable, plant-based alternatives. Through its partnership with Geno, Hyosung is building the world’s first fully integrated manufacturing site for bio-based spandex from renewable raw material to fiber.