Genomatica and Asahi Kasei announced a strategic partnership to commercialize renewably-sourced nylon 6,6 made from Genomatica's bio-based HMD (hexamethylenediamine, also abbreviated as HMDA) building block. Asahi Kasei looks to this partnership to support its goal to be first-to-market with a more sustainable nylon 6,6 for the automotive and electronics industries, based on plant-based HMD, and to accelerate the achievement of its corporate sustainability objectives. HMD is a key component of nylon 6,6 (also known as polyamide 6,6) and multiple other types of nylon, with a global market of 2 million tons per year.

Conventional HMD is made starting from fossil fuels, such as crude oil or natural gas. Renewably-sourced HMD made with Genomatica's technology is derived from renewable feedstocks, such as plant-based sugars, and can improve the sustainability of the many materials made from it. Building upon Genomatica's recently-announced breakthrough to successfully produce significant volumes of plant-based HMD, Asahi Kasei intends to apply the GENO™ HMD process technology to make more sustainable materials for use in products such as high-temperature automotive parts, electronics, or yarns to produce airbags.

Asahi Kasei will have preferential access to early volumes of renewably-sourced HMD and perform nylon application testing, leveraging Asahi Kasei's deep experience developing successful nylon applications. Asahi Kasei anticipates licensing Genomatica's GENO™ HMD process technology to commercialize bio-based nylon 6,6. Genomatica develops complete, integrated process and manufacturing plant designs that use biotechnology, fermentation and renewable feedstocks to make widely-used ingredients and materials with lower carbon footprints. Asahi Kasei expects Genomatica's innovation to help the company reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.