Genomatica, a technology leader for bio-based chemicals, intends to use these assets to develop a wider range of sustainable chemicals which in turn are used to make numerous everyday materials and products, including applications for personal care.
Through this acquisition, the company tells Cosmetics Design that it has gained technology to accelerate its development and commercialization of long-chain chemicals which are commonly used in personal care surfactants.
Asset acquisition details
The asset acquisition provides Genomatica with its third major product platform, allowing it to expand into household and industrial cleaning products, and flavors and fragrances, further growing its ingredients for the apparel, packaging and personal care markets.
Genomatica will also work with ExxonMobil to progress the research program for advanced biofuels from biomass started at REG LS, along with Clariant, which recently joined the collaboration.
“Genomatica’s acquisition is designed to create more technology solutions to help brands and their suppliers meet increasing consumer demand for sustainable products by incorporating renewable or bio-based chemicals into their product offerings,” the company says.
“Consumer demand for sustainable products continues to grow, and successful companies will increasingly switch to ingredients that reduce harm to the environment and work with partners with shared values,” said Christophe Schilling, Genomatica’s CEO. “This acquisition adds powerful technology and talent to help Genomatica enhance the sustainability of everyday products.”
The acquisition enhances Genomatica’s ability to make “long-chain” chemicals from renewable feedstocks.
These chemicals are widely used to make products such as surfactants, cosmetics, solvents, polymers, fuels and food ingredients.
They range from eight to 18 carbon atoms in length and may contain multiple functional groups, resulting in long-chain alcohols, esters, acids, ketones, aldehydes, alkanes, amines, amides and branched products.
“Genomatica’s strengths will help us realize our journey by scaling sustainable chemicals for mainstream applications,” said Fernando Sanchez-Riera, formerly the vice president, R&D, REG LS, and who has now joined Genomatica to lead the continued development of the long-chain platform.
