This short film was developed to show the hidden climate potential in low carbon biotechnology solutions.

In the right context and with the right support these solutions could become an important part to combat climate change. To ensure the transformative potential, the potential of both positive and negative feedbacks should be considered.

“Enzymes are currently used in a number of industrial activities, where they substitute chemical and mechanical processes of higher energy and environmental impacts”

Potential positive feedback:

• Increased resources, due to efficiency gains for suppliers, can be invested in activities that further decrease GHG emissions.
• Efficiency gains reduce pressure on land use as smaller areas of land can deliver the same benefits.
• Unlocking economies of scale in the industrial biotechnology field can stimulate the creation of essential supporting infrastructure that will facilitate wider spread and adoption.

Potential negative feedback:

• Improved efficiency from biotechnology can be applied to unsustainable solutions and make them seem like viable options.
• Strong efficiency focus can take attention from dealing with more transformative implementation.
• Improving processes with highly specialized biotechnology solutions may reduce or delay adoption of others that might be more useful in a low carbon economy.

Watch the movie:

Purifying cotton yarn with the help of enzymes saves on a range of chemicals. Furthermore, water, steam and electricity are saved since it is a much more efficient process. The conventional method is also a relatively harsh treatment in comparison, resulting in yarn loss and less efficient use of agricultural land.