On September 4, 2025, IFF announced the first large-scale commercial use of its Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials (DEB) platform. A major consumer packaged goods company, not named in the press release, recently launched a new laundry detergent enhanced with the DEB technology.
According to IFF’s press release, the DEB platform uses advanced bioscience to create unique and structurally-diverse polysaccharides like those found in nature. The biomaterials are engineered from plant sugar sources and can be customized to enable functionality and specific performance attributes.
“DEB has the power to redefine how (bio)chemical materials will look in the 21st century: tailored, functional, nature-inspired and safer,” said Leticia Gonclaves, president of health and biosciences at IFF. “It brings together biotechnology, molecular design and sustainability to deliver solutions that were unimaginable just a few years ago. This launch is just the beginning — DEB’s potential reaches far beyond any single category, and we’re exploring what sustainability and performance benefits it can unlock across different industries.”
Additionally, IFF is further scaling the DEB platform through Alpha Bio, its joint venture with Kemira, to house a manufacturing asset dedicated to DEB-based materials. The company hopes that this venture will start bringing DEB-based solutions to multiple market sectors beginning in 2027.
