Sustainable materials development leader Genomatica and Japan-based Asahi Kasei have formed a strategic partnership to commercialize renewably sourced Nylon 66 made from Genomatica’s bio-based HMD (hexamethylenediamine) building block. Asahi Kasei hopes that the partnership will allow it to be the first to market with a more sustainable Nylon 66 for the automotive and electronics industries.
HMD is a key component of Nylon 66 (also known as polyamide 66) and multiple other types of nylon, with a global market of two million tons per year. Conventional HMD is made from fossil fuels, such as crude oil or natural gas. Renewably sourced HMD made with Genomatica’s technology is derived from renewable feedstocks, such as plant-based sugars, thereby improving the sustainability of the many materials made from it. Asahi Kasei will have preferential access to early volumes of renewably sourced HMD and perform nylon application testing.
“Asahi Kasei is proud to be a leader in industrial technology, incorporating bio-based materials into our products in our drive to become carbon neutral in the coming years,” said Dr Shigeki Takayama, chief technology officer and representative director on the board of directors of Asahi Kasei. “Sustainability is a core piece of Asahi Kasei’s strategy and Genomatica’s strong history of commercial success has made them an essential partner in this mission. We anticipate a strong start and look forward to moving to commercial scale together.”
