Biotech silk readies for commercialisation
21/06/2024
It has recently announced the completion of an independent cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of its AMSilk Ultrafine Fiber comparing it with conventional mulberry silk. It chose to focus specifically on five environmental indicators “most relevant to the textile industry”, namely climate change, land and water use, acidification and freshwater eutrophication.
The ISO-compliant LCA found that the two silks’ relative impacts were highly in favour of AMSilk’s biotech fibre which presents, per kg, a significantly lower climate change impact (81%), acidification (90%), eutrophication of freshwater (73%), and land and water use (by 92% and 97% respectively). These latter can be attributed, the company notes, to the negative impacts on deforestation and land use due to mulberry tree cultivation.
A former analysis by the Fresenius Institute found that textiles made from AMSilk’s fibres were readily biodegradable according to the OECD 301B standard, with >60% degradation in eight days, and 84% degradation within 28 days. Nonetheless, it takes care to note, the material is fully durable in daily use by a consumer.
The company based in Neuried, near Munich, will be exhibiting its innovative biotech silk at Italian yarn fair Pitti Filati, June 25 to 27, in Florence. “Pitti Filati is the place to be for innovative yarns, as it attracts the most prestigious and influential brands and designers from around the world,” commented Benoit Cugnet, AMSilk’s head of fiber business unit.
Earlier this year, the company hired Ctibor Kohutovic as Chief Production Officer, who has been tasked with scaling up production as AMSilk begins its commercialisation phase. Mr Kohutovic worked for German specialty chemicals company Evonik, and has extensive experience in global production processes, process improvement and contract manufacturing, the company notes.
Ralph Fraundorfer joined the company to head its finance department, also in April. In his career he has worked for Shell, Syngenta, Actelion Pharmaceuticals and most recently at Tropic Biosciences.
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