SynBio Coalition Celebrates Inaugural Biobased Products Day
March 8, 2023
Today marks the first-ever National Biobased Products Day, dedicated to raising awareness of the role and benefits of biobased products in strengthening the U.S. bioeconomy. Synthetic biology represents an immense opportunity to drive technological innovation, onshore domestic manufacturing, secure supply chains, and spark new economic growth. With the power of synthetic biology, as much as 60% of all physical inputs to the global economy could be made biologically – the bioeconomy is estimated to create nearly $4 trillion in economic impact by 2040.
As an industry organization dedicated to solidifying U.S. leadership in synthetic biology on a global scale, we are encouraged by the establishment of the first-ever national day recognizing synthetic biology’s vast potential. In the context of the landmark Bioeconomy Executive Order, today also represents an important moment in time as our country continues to drive toward a future with greater investment and prioritization of synthetic biology.
To celebrate the inaugural Biobased Products Day, we are thrilled to share more about some of our members and how each company leverages synthetic biology to build a more robust U.S. bioeconomy and a brighter future.
Antheia leverages synthetic biology to produce the Key Starting Materials (KSMs) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for essential medicines in a more efficient, low-latency, and sustainable approach. Antheia enables resilient pharmaceutical supply chains, domestic and rapid-response manufacturing, and more equitable channels of distribution.
Checkerspot designs materials and ingredients at a molecular level to enable more sustainable, high-performing products. Checkerspot’s vertically integrated WING™ Platform biomanufactures unique oils that not only reduce dependence on commodity oils and petroleum derivatives, but can improve performance properties in everyday consumer products including hardgoods, textiles, personal care, and food. Checkerspot is animating what is possible for biomaterials through their award-winning outdoor brand WNDR Alpine.
Geno produces sustainable materials and ingredients that replace those made from fossil fuels or require destructive land-use practices. As a result, everything from clothing to cosmetics to electronics and automotives can be made from plants with the same or better performance but lower carbon impacts and with genuine transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain.
Ginkgo Bioworks is building the world’s most advanced synthetic biology platform. Ginkgo designs custom cells for companies across the economy to make everything from biofertilizers to sustainable materials to novel therapeutics.
Solugen produces sustainable chemicals using biotechnology. Its proprietary technology platform uses microbial fermentation to produce specialty chemicals and materials, such as Bioperoxide™, a plant-based, biodegradable chelant that is used in a variety of industrial applications, such as cleaning and water treatment. The use of biotechnology and enzymes allows Solugen to produce chemicals without the use of traditional petrochemical processes, which are often associated with environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the use of sustainable and plant-based raw materials, as opposed to fossil fuels, further reduces Solugen's environmental impact.
Synonym builds infrastructure for the bioeconomy. Synonym provides synthetic biology (synbio) producers – from startups to the Fortune 1000 – with flexible production capacity while giving infrastructure investors access to a new, carbon-negative biomanufacturing asset class.
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