The Potential of Enzyme Engineering to Positively Impact Environmental Sustainability

Sustainable catalytic technology development and use are essential to achieve our net-zero ambitions. Here, we summarize how modified enzymes—directed evolution being a particular emphasis—can enhance the sustainability of various processes and contribute to environmental preservation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) can now be captured by robust and efficient biocatalysts integrated into novel, effective metabolic pathways for CO2 fixation. Enzymes have been improved for Bioremediation, increasing their capacity to break down hazardous substances. With modified cutinases and PETases created for the depolymerization of the ubiquitous plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biocatalytic recycling is gathering momentum. Lastly, using optimized enzymes to transform plant biomass into biofuels or other high-value products is a growing biocatalytic technique for gaining access to petroleum-based feedstocks and chemicals. We intend to demonstrate through these examples how biocatalysis and enzyme engineering can help build a more efficient and clean chemical industry.