Novel plastics and textiles from waste with the use of microbes

New biotechnological and chemical methods will facilitate efficient production of chemicals, materials and fuels from renewable natural resources. The Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence (CoE) in White Biotechnology - Green Chemistry Research focuses on the research and development of microbial cells, or cell factories, for producing new useful compounds from sugars in plant biomass. These compounds can be used, for example, for manufacturing bioplastics or in medical applications. “By means of gene technology, we can modify microbial metabolism and thereby produce organic acids for a wide range of industrial applications. They can be used, among other things, for manufacturing new plastic and textile materials, or packaging technologies,” explains Merja Penttilä, Research Professor and Director of the Centre of Excellence from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. New methods play a key role when various industries are developing environmentally friendly and energy-efficient production processes.