Nanollose has come up with an innovative method to produce rayon. Instead of cutting down trees or harvesting plants and dousing it with harsh chemicals, just let microbes chow down on biomass that would have otherwise been wasted. It takes just a few weeks for the microbes to turn biomass into usable cellulose.

Initially, the company fed coconut leftovers shipped in from Indonesia to its hungry microbes, it is now looking at other options as it prepares to enhance the production of rayon. Another advantage of Nanollose’s is that it can be processed by existing industrial equipment. Manufacturers who want to switch from wood- or plant-derived cellulose to the microbe-produced alternative won’t have to do any re-tooling at their mills.

Another advantage of this method is that it can be processed by existing industrial equipment. Manufacturers who want to switch from wood- or plant-derived cellulose to the microbe-produced alternative won’t have to do any re-tooling at their mills.