Givaudan and LanzaTech infuse renewable carbon to fragrance ingredients using synthetic biology

26 Sep 2022 --- LanzaTech has entered into a research collaboration with Givaudan to develop environmentally sustainable fragrance ingredients from renewable carbon. The partnership aims to leverage synthetic biology capability and establish pathways to produce key fragrance ingredients used across Givaudan’s portfolio.

LanzaTech is bringing renewable carbon by converting carbon emissions to ethanol, which will provide the building blocks necessary to produce a wide range of consumer goods, such as laundry detergent, clothing, shoes and food packaging.

Renewable carbon avoids or substitutes the use of additional fossil carbon. Examples include carbon from carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon recycling.

“Together, thanks to the power of synthetic biology, we are expanding how we can deliver sustainable solutions to all consumers, giving them a choice as to where their carbon comes from while protecting our planet,” says Jennifer Holmgren, CEO at LanzaTech.

Mirroring the sentiment, Jeremy Compton, global head of science and technology for Fragrances at Givaudan, says this strategic collaboration “fully aligns” with the companies’ aspiration to develop products that drive them toward carbon neutrality.

LanzaTech partners with Givaudan to harness renewable carbon for key fragrance ingredients.Significance of renewable carbon
LanzaTech and Givaudan have been long-standing members of the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), whose goal is to support and speed up the transition from fossil carbon to renewable carbon for all organic chemicals and materials.

“Only a full phase-out of fossil carbon will help to prevent a further increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations,” says Michael Carus, founder of the RCI.

“Industry has to go beyond using renewable energy. All fossil carbon use must end, as the carbon contained in the molecules of chemicals and plastics is destined to end up in the atmosphere sooner or later.”

Climate-safe synthetic biology
LanzaTech’s first two commercial-scale gas fermentation plants have produced over 30 million gallons of ethanol, offsetting the release of around 150,000 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Earlier this year, an international team of scientists from Cornell University, US found a sponge-like material that can trap CO2 in its pores. Curbing CO2 levels provides new opportunities to industry players aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and reach their 2030 climate goals.

“Production of small molecules such as ethanol and other perfumes could benefit the beauty industry,” Phillip Milner, assistant professor of chemical and chemical biology at Cornell University, previously told PersoncalCareInsights.

German personal care company Beiersdorf also addressed the ubiquitous demand for planet-conscious skincare products in its recent skincare launch, which harnesses CO2 recycling technology to power its operations. The resulting brand is the Nivea Men Climate Care Moisturizer.

The new moisturizer reportedly contains 14% ethanol, obtained by carbon capture and utilization (CCU), a method of recycling CO2.

The European Council previously outlined a plan to create a European CCU market. This implied that companies could be offered greater economic or regulatory incentives to use captured carbon in manufacturing personal care ingredients.

Edited by Radhika Sikaria

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