In the relentless fight against climate change, decarbonizing our economies is paramount. This necessitates a complete overhaul of production processes, making them as environmentally friendly as possible. This is where Deep Blue Biotech, a U.K. startup founded in May 2023, comes in. They are revolutionizing the chemicals industry with a groundbreaking approach: using photosynthesis-based biomanufacturing to create chemicals in a sustainable way.
From Fossil Fuels to Sunlight: A Sustainable Chemical Revolution
Deep Blue Biotech tackles the challenge of conventional chemical production, which often relies on refining fossil fuels. Their solution? Harnessing the power of photosynthesis. They utilize a specific strain of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, and employ genetic engineering and computational modeling to transform these single-celled organisms into microscopic factories churning out "green chemicals."
These green chemicals boast superior sustainability credentials. Cyanobacteria, during photosynthesis, consume carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. This "net-positive" approach actively removes CO2 from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change.
Beyond Sustainability: High-Performance Green Chemicals
Deep Blue Biotech isn't just about eco-friendliness; they prioritize performance as well. Their bioengineered approach allows them to create highly efficacious chemicals, addressing a major shortcoming of previous attempts at sustainable alternatives. These earlier efforts often resulted in less effective products, hindering consumer adoption.
Deep Blue Biotech aims to bridge this gap by delivering "green chemicals" that are both environmentally conscious and outperform their conventional counterparts in terms of functionality. "The first generation of green chemicals, unfortunately, they just sucked," says co-founder Manuel Rios, a former VP of sustainable design at Unilever. "They were just more expensive and less efficacious, and we need to counteract that effect that happened in the last 10 years."
Rios emphasizes the power of synthetic biology: "What we start to see with synthetic biology, in general, is because of how we create and design the molecules, you can actually go and aim for functionality." This targeted approach allows Deep Blue Biotech to create a new generation of sustainable materials with superior performance.
Cost-Effective Green Ingredients
The cost of production is another crucial factor. Deep Blue Biotech leverages computational modeling to identify chemicals that are cost-effective to target using their novel method. They focus on chemicals with a market price exceeding $2,000-$3,000 per kilo, ensuring healthy margins while offering a price advantage over traditional production methods.
Deep Blue Biotech is initially targeting the beauty and cosmetics industry, with plans to expand into textiles and potentially other sectors. Their first product is hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient in various skincare products and medical applications.
"We're not going to save the world with cosmetics," says Rios, "but ... what we're trying to do with that industry specifically is we believe [it] has the ability to change perceptions." He believes the beauty industry, with its high consumer engagement, can be a powerful platform to promote sustainable practices. Additionally, cosmetics offer a faster route to market compared to other potential applications.
A Breakthrough in Cyanobacteria Production
While the concept of photosynthetic biomanufacturing isn't entirely new, particularly for biofuels, commercialization has been hampered by low production rates. Deep Blue Biotech claims a breakthrough thanks to their use of a recently discovered, high-productivity strain of cyanobacteria.
"The main advantage that this strain has is it's three times faster [growing] than any other strain of cyanobacteria ever discovered and has seven times more productivity," explains Rios. "So that kind of breaks the barrier in terms of commercialization."
Deep Blue Biotech: Securing a Sustainable Future
Deep Blue Biotech recently announced an $800,000 pre-seed funding round led by Sustainable Ventures, with participation from One Planet Capital, PCSI, and SFC Capital. They also secured Innovate UK grants.
These funds will fuel their journey towards a commercial Minimum Viable Product (MVP), a small-scale production demonstrator. The focus will be on launching paid pilots through joint development agreements with customers to integrate Deep Blue Biotech's hyaluronic acid into their products. Letters of intent signed with cosmetics firms, including Rios' former employer, Unilever, bode well for future partnerships.
Part of the funding will also go towards securing a patent and expanding their in-house expertise in bioprocess engineering. Deep Blue Biotech acknowledges they are still in the experimental phase, but they are confident in their modular production process, which utilizes photobioreactors for cultivating cyanobacteria. These reactors, with their transparent tubes allowing light penetration, offer a clear advantage over traditional stainless-steel vats used in precision fermentation. The modular design allows for easy scaling by adding more tubes as production needs increase.
Deep Blue Biotech: A Competitive Landscape
While Deep Blue Biotech is pioneering a sustainable approach to chemical production, it's not alone in the field. Several companies are exploring similar technologies and applications:
- Microphyt: This French biotech company has been working with microalgae for years and has secured a strategic partnership with L'Oréal. While their focus differs slightly, Microphyt is a significant player in the space.
- Bondi Bio: An Australian company utilizing the same cyanobacteria strain as Deep Blue Biotech, Bondi Bio is also exploring commercial applications.
Deep Blue Biotech's competitive advantage lies in its strategic approach, industry expertise, and innovative technology. By combining a deep understanding of the market with a groundbreaking production process, they aim to position themselves as a leading player in the sustainable chemicals industry.
Conclusion: A Brighter Future for Sustainable Chemistry
Deep Blue Biotech's vision is to revolutionize the chemical industry by harnessing the power of nature. By transforming pond scum into high-performance, sustainable chemicals, they are paving the way for a greener future. Their groundbreaking approach, coupled with strategic partnerships and a strong team, positions them to make a significant impact on the global chemical landscape.
As they continue to scale their operations and expand their product portfolio, Deep Blue Biotech is poised to become a driving force in the sustainable chemistry revolution. By addressing the environmental and performance challenges of traditional chemical production, they are not only contributing to a healthier planet but also shaping the future of innovation and sustainability.
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