International. Bioweg and Ginkgo Bioworks announce a collaboration to produce new cellulose variants with improved performance to serve a variety of end markets.
Current products from Bioweg, a producer of highly functional and customizable bio-based materials based on biodegradable bacterial cellulose, have already been tested and implemented by companies as an effective substitute for widely used synthetic polymers such as acrylates, polyethylene and polystyrene.
Synthetic polymers often appear as microspheres (micropowders) and texturizers (rheology modifiers) in cosmetics, home care, personal care, agricultural coatings and other industries, contributing to microplastic pollution in surface waters around the world.
It is estimated that an average person could be ingesting around 5 grams of plastic each week through the consumption of common foods and drinks, according to a study from Newcastle University. These microplastics are not biodegradable and sometimes contain toxic chemicals on top.
Regulatory agencies and communities around the world have addressed microplastic pollution through significant regulations. For example, in 2022, the European Chemical Agency announced phase-out periods of 4 and 6 years for microspheres in rinse and rinse-off cosmetics, respectively.
"Consumers and businesses are united in their commitment to finding more sustainable and better-performing alternatives to everyday products to break the chain of microplastic pollution," said Bioweg CEO Prateek Mahalwar.
"Our solutions not only address an important environmental, sustainability and health issue, but also present a strong market opportunity to replace plastic polymers in care, coatings, chemicals and other industries," Mahalwar added.
