Enzymes have been used in detergents since the 1960s. The use of enzymes in laundry detergents and automatic dish washing machines provides consumers with well proven benefits - both in the washing process itself and in terms of the wider environment.
Enzymes can reduce the environmental load of detergent products since they:
- Save energy by enabling a lower wash temperature
- Partly replace other, often less desirable, chemicals in detergents
- Are biodegradable, leaving no harmful residues
- Have no negative environmental impact on sewage treatment processes
- Do not present a risk to aquatic life
Calculations show that in Denmark with five million inhabitants, a reduction of wash temperature from 60°C to 40°C would lead to an energy saving equivalent to approx. 40,000 tonnes of coal a year. In comparison, less than 300 tonnes of coal a year would be needed to produce the enzymes that enable lower wash temperature. (This amount does not include energy used for the buildings and for product distribution).
No health risk
At Novozymes we use only well-known and safe microorganisms for enzyme production. We apply genetic engineering to benefit optimally from our production plants and raw materials - to the clear benefit of the environment.
During the production process the enzyme products are recovered from the genetically modified organisms (GMO) and purified. Therefore there are no GMOs present neither in the enzymes sold to detergent manufacturers nor in any other of Novozymes' enzyme products.
Moreover, Novozymes' production activities are approved and closely regulated and monitored by the Danish environmental authorities.
Encapsulated or liquid enzymes can therefore be handled conveniently and safely. If handled properly they present no health risk to employees in enzyme production or detergent manufacturing plants. Furthermore they present no risk to the final consumer.
Background
How enzymes work
Enzymes are natural catalysts which are present in all living organisms. This means that all the functions of living organisms are inextricably linked to the activity of enzymes. They enable complex reactions to proceed at the temperature of the surrounding environment.
Individual enzymes are highly specific and work only on a very limited range of substrate, but they can function both inside and outside living cells. As proteins, enzymes lose their catalytic properties if heated or subjected to other conditions which denature protein.
Biotechnology and environmental benefits
Man's use of enzyme reactions dates back to antiquity. The making of cheese, vinegar and wine, the leavening of bread, and the brewing of beer are all enzymatic processes which have their origins in prehistory.
In the past few decades the industry has increased its use of enzymes, and enzymes are now widely used in many different industries. As they can often replace harsh chemicals and help save on water, energy and raw materials, they have a positive impact on the environment.
What is more, enzymes are totally biodegradable and have no harmful effects in waste water treatment plants or in the aquatic environment at large.
Benefits of using modern biotechnology
In the genetic material of all living cells, a single gene contains the code for the production of a particular enzyme or other protein. Through genetic engineering, genes from one type of organis m can be transferred to another. In this way, the desired amounts of naturally occurring enzymes can be produced in microorganisms that are suitable for large-scale, controlled fermentation.
The use of genetic engineering in fermentation technology offers a number of clear benefits for both the environment and consumers, such as lower consumption of raw materials, water and energy.
A further advantage of genetic engineering is the broader range of enzymes that can be produced on an industrial scale. A good example is the fatsplitting detergent enzyme Lipolase which could only be produced on a large scale by transferring the gene from a wild microorganism to a stable production organism.
Modern biotechnology and detergent enzymes
Enzymes are widely used in the detergent industry where they provide clear cleaning performance benefits in laundry and dish washing detergent products. Enzyme properties may also be improved by the use of protein engineering technique whereby specific amino acid substitutions in the enzyme are coded for in the enzyme gene.
Examples are the improved washing efficiency of Lipolase Ultra and the bleach-resistant starch degrading enzyme Duramyl.