IFF Launches Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials Technology Platform

IFF today announced the launch of its new Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials (DEB) technology for the development of biobased materials at scale. Designed to deliver meaningful sustainability benefits—with performance comparable or superior to fossil-based materials—DEB technology helps to address growing preferences for environmentally-friendly, high-performance biopolymers, according to IFF.

“With the DEB technology platform, scientists can now build the functions of petroleum-based polymers into biopolymer materials directly—customizing and fine-tuning polysaccharides to enable sustainable performance enhancements within the chosen application,” said Wayne Ashton, VP of home and personal care at IFF. “From my perspective, this is one of the most innovative technology platforms to launch industry-wide in the last 15 years.”

DEB technology utilizes advanced biotechnology to create unique, structurally diverse polysaccharides like those found in nature, but at scale, with an accuracy and consistency typically only found in traditional industrial polymers, according to IFF. Its new family of advanced tailored biomaterials uses only plant-based sugars, water and enzymes; to open up access to a range of materials with glycosidic linkage control, designed-in molecular weights and morphology, according the company.

The potential of this itechnology platform has already been demonstrated across several industries, according to IFF.

For example, Aurist AGC is IFF's first personal care ingredient enabled by DEB technology; it can significantly improve both wet and dry combability in conditioning haircare products and is a readily biodegradable alternative to synthetic incumbents. This component won gold in the functional ingredients category at the 2023 In-cosmetics Global Innovation Zone Best Ingredient Award.

In home care applications, Lyrature is a growing family of nature-inspired, customizable, high-performance biopolymers, designed to pursue 100% biodegradable detergents and cleansers. The DEB technology can be applied as cleaning polymers, rheology modifiers and emulsion stabilizers, said IFF.

In industrial applications, Nuvolve engineered polysaccharides are currently being developed successfully as performance-enhancing materials for textile and performance additive applications and together with partners across various industries such as packaging, paper and board as well as nonwovens and performance composites.