Geno, Sojitz to launch world’s first plant-based nylon-6

Biomanufacturing technology company Geno has joined hands with Japanese conglomerate Sojitz Corporation to speed up the commercialization of the world’s first plant-based nylon-6. Along with providing business expertise, the Tokyo-based firm has made a strategic financial investment to help bring the innovation to market faster.

“Our goal is to make the large-scale production of plant-based nylon-6 both affordable and sustainable,” said John Gugel, CEO of Geno. “By collaborating with Sojitz and our other partners, we aim to bring this breakthrough technology to market sooner, offering consumers and global brands high-performance materials made from renewable and traceable carbon sources.”

Mitsutoshi Takagi, general manager of Sojitz’s Environment and Life Science Department, said the company believes in progress through innovation. By teaming up with Geno, a San Diego-based leader in industrial biomanufacturing, both companies aim to reshape the material industry with solutions that are sustainable and commercially viable.

“The Chemicals Division is working actively to expand the development and trade of bio-based chemicals,” Takagi added. “Using our experience and global network, Sojitz will continue to drive progress in bringing the world’s first plant-based nylon-6 to reality.”