Genomatica achieves production milestone for butylene glycol based on renewable sources
Genomatica (San Diego, Calif.; www.genomatica.com) announced large-scale commercial production of its Brontide butylene glycol. Over 600 tons of high-purity, naturally-sourced Brontide were produced in under five weeks and packaged in thousands of drums. Both quality and consistency were confirmed, with purity varying by less than 0.08%, across 21 production lots. Over 250 formulators have received Brontide product samples to evaluate the material for use in personal care and cosmetics products.
Brontide was first shipped to customers in mid-2017. Brontide is made from plant-based sugars, using Genomatica’s fermentation-based process technology. To date, large-scale production of butylene glycol has relied on petroleum-based feedstocks; Genomatica is now providing a for sustainable way for the personal care industry to address consumer demand for more natural ingredients and improved sustainability, while delivering the same performance as petroleum-based butylene glycol. For example, Brontide has 50% lower global warming potential than conventional butylene glycol, according to an independent, comprehensive lifecycle analysis (LCA). A summary of the LCA study was featured in the November 2018 issue of SOFW Journal, a publication targeting personal care and home care product formulators.
Genomatica produces Brontide at a Novamont fermentation-based production plant in Italy. Novamont, a longtime partner of Genomatica, has been producing sustainable materials at its European plants for many years. Not only is Brontide the only butylene glycol made directly from sugars in the world, it conforms to the ISO 16128 definition as a natural ingredient and is also the only butylene glycol produced in Europe.
“The Brontide we’re showcasing today will support the product introductions being made by our first wave of customers,” said Damien Perriman, Genomatica’s senior vice president, Specialty Chemicals. “Genomatica knows how to produce bio-based, renewably-sourced ingredients on a large scale. That means formulators can make more natural products and differentiate themselves, and the personal care industry gains increased supply.”