Technological watch

Givaudan and LanzaTech announce their collaboration on developing sustainable fragrance ingredients from renewable carbon

Renewable carbon is carbon that avoids or substitutes the use of additional fossil carbon. Examples include carbon from CO2 and carbon recycling. Multiple commercial facilities are already licensing LanzaTech’s technology, converting various waste carbon sources to ethanol, including the conversion of industrial emissions in China, thanks to the power of industrial biology and a proprietary biocatalyst. With over 15 years scale up experience, LanzaTech’s approach to carbon transformation is bringing renewable carbon into people’s lives through the conversion of emissions to ethanol and the subsequent conversion of ethanol to the building blocks necessary to make a wide range of consumer goods, such as laundry detergent, clothing, shoes, and food packaging. In addition, thanks to its synthetic biology and modelling capabilities, LanzaTech can introduce new pathways into their biocatalyst to produce a variety of different chemicals through this process.

The research collaboration with Givaudan is one that is expected to leverage this synthetic biology capability and go beyond the production of ethanol, with the companies working together to establish novel pathways to key fragrance ingredients used across the Givaudan portfolio. By searching for new opportunities to bring perfumery material innovations to life, the companies have a shared goal of using sustainable methods to continue serving consumers through enhancing the perfumery palette and being good for the planet as well. 

Jeremy Compton, Global Head of Science and Technology for Fragrances at Givaudan said: “We are very excited about this strategic collaboration with LanzaTech, a much-respected sustainable materials company that has an impressive heritage, and a state-of-the-art research platform in renewable carbon solutions. Our purpose of ‘creating for healthier, happier lives with love for nature’ fully aligns with the aspiration of our two companies to develop products that support us in being carbon neutral in the future. Together we have the potential to grow with our respective businesses while increasing our positive impact on the world with products consumers feel good about, and that preserve our planet.”

“Givaudan has long been an expert in pairing innovation and technology in the world of fragrance and we are excited to be working with a company that shares our vision of a post pollution future,” said Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech. “Together, thanks to the power of synthetic biology, we are expanding the way in which we can deliver sustainable solutions to all consumers, giving them a choice as to where their carbon comes from while protecting our planet.”

Both companies have been longstanding members of the Renewable Carbon Initiative, an organisation whose goal is to support and speed up the transition from fossil carbon to renewable carbon for all organic chemicals and materials.

“Industry has to go beyond using renewable energy,” said Michael Carus, founder of the RCI.” 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. Only a full phase-out of fossil carbon will help to prevent a further increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations.”

About GivaudanGivaudan is a global leader in Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing. We celebrate the beauty of human experience by creating for happier, healthier lives with love for nature. Together with our customers we deliver food experiences, craft inspired fragrances, and develop beauty and wellbeing solutions that make people look and feel good. In 2021, Givaudan employed over 16,800 people worldwide and achieved CHF 6.7 billion in sales with a free cash flow of 12.6%. With a heritage that stretches back over 250 years, we are committed to driving long-term, purpose-led growth by improving people’s health and happiness and increasing our positive impact on nature. This is Givaudan. Human by nature.

About LanzaTech LanzaTech harnesses the power of biology and big data to create climate-safe materials and fuels. With expertise in synthetic biology, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence and machine learning coupled with engineering, LanzaTech has created a platform that converts waste carbon into new everyday products that would otherwise come from virgin fossil resources. LanzaTech’s first two commercial scale gas fermentation plants have produced over 30 million gallons of ethanol, which is the equivalent of offsetting the release of over 150,000 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Additional plants are under construction globally. LanzaTech is based in Illinois, USA. As previously announced LanzaTech has entered into a merger agreement for a business combination transaction with AMCI Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: AMCI). Upon closing, the combined company is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LNZA”.

Publication date: 29/09/2022

Author: Yago Destro de Oliveira

Bio-based News

      

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 870292.