Together with Ginkgo Bioworks, a cell programming and biosecurity company, Octarine Bio, a synthetic biology platform producing new sustainable bio-based components, aims to commercialise the production of natural pigments and dyes through microbial fermentation.
New bioactive colours and dyes will be released on the market by Octarine Bio and Ginkgo BioWorks in response to customer demands for healthier, safer, and more environmentally friendly options.
The businesses are developing a strain to produce violacein, a deep purple, naturally occurring bis-indole pigment, and its derivatives, which include green, blue, and purple colours. Although bacterial violacein is challenging to extract and purify, it is frequently used to colour silk, pure rayon, and jacquard rayon.
A possible application for this colour in wound care is highlighted by its strong antimicrobial, antioxidant, and UV protecting characteristics. Other molecules created from tryptophan may be included in the partnership, each with its own special uses.
Ena Cratsenburg, chief business officer at Ginkgo Bioworks, said: “This is a robust opportunity to produce a new class of safer, high-performing colours and dyes that will appeal to consumers and companies worldwide.”
Nethaji Gallage, co-founder & CEO at Octarine added: “We see tremendous potential to apply these natural pigments as bio-based dyes, one of the fastest growing categories in the global textile market and look forward to leveraging the Ginkgo platform to accelerate its development.”
According to the UN Environment Programme and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the dyeing, processing, and consumption of textiles have a significant impact on the environment, climate change, the use of water and land, the use of raw materials, and greenhouse gas emissions. About 20 per cent of the world’s wastewater is produced by the dyeing, processing, and consumption of textiles.
