BioVoice News eMag August 2023 | Page 34

I N T E R V I E W

defined that we would like to work in industries where you can replace chemicals , bring in better efficiency . We have an ambition of achieving 100 % biological based detergents . We want to push ourselves through this route and thus reduce the amount of chemical discharge into water streams . We are looking at areas such as food , household care , and biofuels as attractive opportunities .
What are some of the emerging trends and technologies in the biotech industry that you believe will have a significant impact on Novozymes ' business in the near future ?
Food and food transformation is a very big area that we see in India . As the country moves from 3 trillion to 5 trillion , there is a need for industrialization of food . It is happening in front of our eyes as a large number of food options are ready to eat and convenience based . Here affordability and convenience triumphs over the effort . Fast forward 5-10 years , there is a high chance that most of the members are working and
would need a meal from outside . So would they do scratch cooking or would they do the ready to eat . I think as we move forward , we will get our food from the supermarket . The need for keeping the food fresh , clean labeling , and food safety would have to be ensured through technology . Salt reduction and sugar reduction would also be required to be controlled as both obesity and hypertension are increasing . Providing the right amount of nutrition and fats need to be taken care of . Hence , the wellness and nutraceutical space too will have a lot of opportunities .
Sustainability is fast gaining traction globally within the biotech industry . How does Novozymes prioritize sustainability and environmental impact in its operations and product offerings ?
We need to walk the talk and do what we have been always advocating . Novozymes aims to achieve the target of net zero by 2050 . All our production sites will be 100 % renewable by 2025 and we also plan to reduce absolute CO2 emissions from operations by 2025 . We plan to improve freshwater withdrawal by recycling 10 % more water by 2025 , 15 % by 2030 , and 20 % by 2035 . By 2030 , we plan to restore 30 billion liters of water in basins close to our production sites where WASH ( Water , Sanitation and Hygiene ) is a challenge . In terms of circularity , we plan to achieve two key circular projects in pilots with demonstrated benefit by 2025 . We also aim to achieve zero waste to landfill from
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BioVoiceNews | August 2023