| Consumer Product |
Old Process |
New Industrial Biotech Process |
Biotech Enabling Process |
Consumer Benefit |
| Detergent |
Phosphates added as
brightening and cleaning
agents |
Addition of biotechnology
enzymes as brightening
and cleaning agents:
- Proteases remove protein stains
- Lipases remove grease stains
- Amylases remove starch stains
|
Genetically enhanced
microbes or fungi engineered
to make enzymes |
- Elimination of water pollution from phosphates
- Brighter, cleaner clothes with lower-temperature wash water
- Energy savings
|
| Bread |
Potassium bromate, a
suspected cancer-causing
agent at certain levels,
added as a preservative
and a dough strengthening
agent |
Addition of biotechnology
enzymes to:
- enhance rising
- strengthen dough
- prolong freshness
|
Microorganisms genetically
enhanced to produce baking
enzymes (directed evolution
and recombinant DNA) |
- High-quality bread
- Longer shelf life
- No potassium bromate
|
| Polyester Bedding |
Polyester* produced
chemically from
petroleum feedstock |
Biotech polyester (PLA)
produced from corn sugar
feedstock |
Existing bacillus microbe
used to ferment corn sugar
to lactic acid; lactic acid
converted to a biodegradable
polymer by heating; polymer
made into plastic products
and polyester |
- PLA polyester does not harbor body odor like other fibers
- Biodegradable
- Not made from petroleum
- Does not give off toxic smoke if burned
|
| Vitamin B2 |
Toxic chemicals, such as
aniline, used in a ninestep
chemical synthesis
process |
One-step fermentation
process uses vegetable oil
as a feedstock |
Genetically enhanced microbe
developed to produce vitamin
B2 (directed evolution) |
- n Biologically produced without chemicals
- n Greatly reduces hazardous waste generation and disposal
|
| Stonewashed Jeans |
Open-pit mining of
pumice; fabric washed
with crushed pumice
stone and/or acid |
Fabric washed with
biotechnology enzyme
(cellulase) to fade and
soften jeans or khakis |
Textile enzymes produced
by genetically enhanced
microbe (extremophiles and
recombinant DNA) |
- Less mining
- Softer fabric
- Reduced energy consumption
- Lower cost
|
| Paper Bleaching |
Wood chips boiled in a
harsh chemical solution
to yield pulp for paper
making |
Enzymes selectively
degrade lignin and break
down wood cell walls
during pulping |
Wood-bleaching enzymes
produced by genetically
enhanced microbes
(recombinant DNA) |
- Reduces use of chlorine bleach and reduces toxic dioxin in the environment
- Cost savings due to lower energy and chemical costs
|
| Ethanol Fuel |
Food and feed grains
fermented into ethanol
(a technology that is
thousands of years old) |
Cellulase enzyme
technology allows
conversion of crop
residues (stems, leaves,
straw, and hulls) to sugars
that are then converted
to ethanol |
Genetically enhanced
organism developed to
produce enzymes that
convert agricultural wastes
into fermentable sugars
(directed evolution, gene
shuffling) |
- Renewable feedstock
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
- Increases domestic energy production
- Is more energy efficient to produce than old process
|
| Antibiotics |
Chlorinated solvents and
hazardous chemicals used
to produce antibiotics
through chemical
synthesis |
One-step biological
process uses direct
fermentation to produce
antibiotic intermediate |
Genetically enhanced
organism developed to
produce the key intermediate
of certain antibiotics
(recombinant DNA) |
- 65% reduction in energy consumption
- Overall cost savings
|
| Contact Lens Solution |
Surfactants and/or saline
solutions (do not remove
protein deposits) used to
clean lenses |
Protease enzymes remove
protein deposits from the
contact lens |
Genetically enhanced
microbes engineered to make
protease enzymes (directed
evolution) |
- More effective contact lens cleaning
- Less eye irritation
|
Printer Friendly