Biotechnology for industrial sustainability

Until recently waste production was seen as an inevitable outcome of indust rial production and processing, and a problem that could be managed by end- of-pipe and ill situ biotreatment, disposal, or simply be ignored. However the introduction of clean, or cleaner, technology options now is focussing attention on the minimisation of materials and energy use, and waste genera tion, and upon recycle. Thus clean technology has emerged as a concept that is compatible with industrial sustainability, and whose environmental bene fits and economic competitiveness have been demonstrable over a range of in dustrial sectors. Biotechnology is an enabling technology that offers one i mportant route to clean products and processes; it provides powerful and ve rsatile tools that can compete with chemical and physical means of reducing both material and energy consumption, and tl-re generation of wastes and e missions. The wide penetration of biotechnology in industry has still to oc cur but many examples of its ability to deliver clean and competitive produ cts and processes are now available particularly through the development an d application of biocatalysts. The introduction of clean or cleaner process ing does not necessarily entail a complete change in manufacturing strategy or the refitting of plant. Upgrading existing manufacturing processes by f itting biotechnology unit stages illustrates the opportunities for such int ermediate technology. Nevertheless, for biotechnology to achieve its full p otential as a basis for clean industrial products and processes beyond its current applications, innovative R&D will be needed. The successful applica tion of biotechnology as a clean technology is illustrated in this review t hrough a series of case studies, while the innovative nature of biotechnolo gy in this context is demonstrated by the development and application of no vel biocatalysts.