Background
Enzymes have been used in detergents since the 1960s. The use of enzymes in laundry and automatic dish washing detergents 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 and CO2 emissions by enabling lower wash temperatures while maintaining washing performance
- Partly replace other chemicals in detergents, such as surfactants
- Enable compactation, reducing packaging and transportation costs
- Are biodegradable, leaving no harmful residues
- Have no negative environmental impact on sewage treatment processes
- Do not present a risk to aquatic life
Laundry washing is one of the activities that consume the most energy in an ordinary household. By washing at 30 rather than 60 or 40 degrees, the CO2 savings potential in Europe and the US is around 32 million tons – equivalent to the emission of 8 million cars.
Position on detergent enzymes
The use of enzymes in detergents provides consumers with well proven benefits. Detergent enzymes present no risk to consumers, nor to employees in detergent production, provided a few simple precautionary measurements are followed in order to avoid the generation of airborne enzyme dust or aerosol.
No health risk
At Novozymes only well-known and safe microorganisms is used for enzyme production. Novozymes applies genetic engineering to benefit optimally from the company’s 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 Novozymes' enzyme products. Moreover, Novozymes' production activities are approved and closely regulated and monitored by the Danish environmental authorities.
Encapsulated or liquid enzymes can be handled conveniently and safely. Read more about safety evaluation of Novozymes’ products
Modern biotechnology and detergent enzymes
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. Read about how enzymes work
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.
Read more about the benefits of using modern biotechnology and the advantages of genetic engineering.
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 surfactant replacing enzyme Lipoclean, the improved cold washing efficiency of Polarzyme, and the bleach-resistant starch degrading enzyme Duramyl.
Inquiry on Novozymes and detergent enzymes
You are welcome to contact Novozymes for more information on our position on detergent enzymes here