TOMRA GAINnext PET Cleaner
Published

Genomatica and Aquafil Start Pre-Commercial Plant-Based Nylon 6 Production

Quantities available for evaluation in nylon applications ranging from yarns for textile and carpet to engineering thermoplastics.

Share

Genomatica and Aquafil producing pre-commercial quantities of plant-based nylon 6
Photo Credit: Genomatica

This past March, I reported on San Diego-based biotechnology firm Genomatica (Geno) and its collaboration with Asahi Kasei to commercialize renewably-sourced nylon 66. The strategic partnership entails the use of Genomatica’s biobased  HMDA (hexamethylene diamine) building block. Now, the company reports that it is one step closer to commercialization of renewable nylon 6 with its long-term partner Aquafil, Italy’s nylon 6 fiber producer.

The partners produced the first several tons of plant-based nylon-6 building block caprolactam, have converted it to nylon 6 polymer and are now in the process of transforming it for evaluation in nylon applications, ranging from yarns for textile and carpet to engineering plastics for automotive as part of pre-commercial quantities from demonstration production taking place in Europe. Geno also  confirmed that they also are currently exploring a range of opportunities in North America and internationally.

Having successfully completed the pilot-scale production runs of 100% plant-based nylon 6, the partners have advanced to production of pre-commercial quantities which will help determine the final design of future commercial plants. The material will go to leading global brands and their value chain partners who are eager to explore and develop renewable products, create showcase goods and test feedback with customers.

“Now, more than ever, global brands are taking action to incorporate sustainable materials into their products. We’re working to build purposeful, traceable and transparent supply chains, in this case for nylon 6, with the goal to provide more sustainable products that consumers demand and material solutions that can help brands achieve their ESG goals,” said Geno’s CEO Christophe Schilling.

Plant-based nylon-6 is just one of Geno’s major product lines on a path to commercialization. The company has executed high impact deals with a range of brands to accelerate the global commercialization of sustainable materials, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 million tons in upcoming years. A significant collaboration is with Covestro, which this past January, announced that the partners had teamed up to be the first to successfully produce significant volumes of a plant-based version of HDMA.  The companies expect to produce ton quantities of high-quality material over the course of multiple production campaigns.

Covestro and Geno working on commercial scale up of renewable HDMA for nylon 66
Photo Credit: Covestro

Both partners are already processing and testing material from their initial production campaigns, and the resulting bio-HMDA is of high purity and quality. The companies plan to advance the program to full commercial scale, and Covestro has secured an option from Genomatica to license the resulting integrated Geno HMDA process technology for commercial production.

In addition to being a key ingredient for nylon 66 production, HMDA is also an important component for raw materials for coatings and adhesives from Covestro. As mentioned previously, Geno has also formed a partnership with Asahi Kasei in this arena with a focus on nylon 66 engineering resins for automotive.

Other Geno milestones include its newly formed venture with Uniliver to commercialize and scale plant-based alternatives to feedstocks like palm oil or fossil fuels to make key ingredients used in everyday cleaning and personal care products. Another is its collaboration with Lululemon to bring plant-based materials into lululemon’s clothing products.

Dri-Air
We ❤ Powders
Masters of Blending
Repair and Rectify
TD-Series Desiccant Dryers
Dover Clear
CM-17d
Gardner Business Media, Inc.
Shuttle Mold System
Purgex: Made in the USA. Trusted Globally.
Register Now!
TOMRA GAINnext PET Cleaner

Related Content

How to Optimize Your Molds and Hot Runners for Processing Bioresins

Demand for bioresins is growing in molded goods, particularly as a sustainability play to replace fossil-fuel based materials, but these materials are not a drop-in replacement for traditional materials. Molds and hot runners need to be optimized for these materials.

Read More
Biopolymers

Avantium and U.S.’s Origin Materials Aim to Accelerate Production of FDCA and PEF

The partnership aims to bring together both companies’ technology platforms to produce FDCA from sustainable wood residues on an industrial scale.

Read More
sustainability

BASF Highlighting How They 'Make, Use and Recycle Future Solutions'

NPE2024: BASF is using its proprietary computer-aided engineering tool Ultrasim when designing for sustainability in a broad range of industries.

Read More
Biopolymers

Why Are They Blending Biopolymers?

A sit-down with bioplastic producer Danimer Scientific showed me there are more possible answers to that question than I had previously thought.

Read More

Read Next

Sponsored

Precision Processing Requires Precision Equipment

Moretto offers plastics processors and micromolders for a broad suite of auxiliary solutions targeted specifically for precision processing.

Read More
sustainability

Lead the Conversation, Change the Conversation

Coverage of single-use plastics can be both misleading and demoralizing. Here are 10 tips for changing the perception of the plastics industry at your company and in your community.

Read More
NPE

See Recyclers Close the Loop on Trade Show Production Scrap at NPE2024

A collaboration between show organizer PLASTICS, recycler CPR and size reduction experts WEIMA and Conair recovered and recycled all production scrap at NPE2024.

Read More
TD-Series Desiccant Dryers