San Diego’s Genomatica has produced the first ton of a key ingredient for nylon-6, made from plants instead of crude oil. The bio-based nylon could potentially reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in a $10 billion global industry that churns out more than 5 million tons of nylon-6 each year for carpeting, clothing, car interiors, engineered plastics and food packaging.

Genomatica uses an engineered microorganism and production process to ferment sugars found in plants to make the chemical intermediate for nylon-6. The chemical can then be converted into nylon-6 polymer chips and yarns by Aquafil in Slovenia.

The company’s technology, which was recognised by Time as one of the best inventions of 2019, is underpinned by the process of fermentation. Genomatica uses an engineered microorganism and production process to ferment sugars found in plants to make the chemical intermediate for nylon-6. The chemical can then be converted into nylon-6 polymer chips and yarns by Aquafil in Slovenia.