Biosolutions rock your routine from dawn till dusk

Biosolutions, short for 'biological solutions', are indeed present in products we use round the clock, yet most of us know so little about them. They are called biosolutions because they are leveraging

the power of living organisms like bacteria, yeast, fungi, and plants. Not to mention enzymes, which, although not living, kickstart and speed up vital processes in all living things, ensuring transformation and survival.

Let’s dive into the world of biosolutions and learn how harnessing the power of biology can make our daily routines easier and more sustainable, in our quest to build a healthier, greener future.
 

How are enzymes and biosolutions related?
Let’s learn from detergents

From the tiniest bacteria and insects to the largest trees, animals and humans, one thing that binds us all together is enzymes. Every living organism produces enzymes, which are critical to the functioning of their bodies. If you would like to know more about enzymes, we have devoted a full issue of The biosolutions bulletin to their fascinating world. Knock yourself out with issue #2.

The word enzyme came into existence after their discovery in the late 19th century. Since then, researchers have discovered various enzymes and their roles in different living organisms. It was realized that many of these enzymes can serve useful purposes for humans, and that inspired the idea of crafting solutions to our everyday problems that are based on biology.

Let’s understand how biosolutions to our everyday problems are derived from enzymes with an easy example – detergents.

As knowledge about chemicals improved, the ingredients list of detergents became longer and longer. Detergents became a cocktail of chemicals serving various purposes: proving effective against a variety of stains, preserving the freshness of clothes, removing bad odor, ensuring the colors remain bright, or maintaining fiber strength.

However, there was still a potential to clean the clothes even better – and biosolutions became a way to improve the effectiveness of the detergent while also being able to reduce the amount of chemicals used – reducing the impact on .e.g. the aquatic environment.

Detergent companies have been gradually adding biosolutions to their products and some are replacing various chemicals with biosolutions. This has made detergents currently available less both better for the clothes and for the environment. Here are some examples of enzymes used as biosolutions in making detergents:

• Lipase: This enzyme helps our bodies break down the fat we eat, like butter, oil, or lard to obtain nutrition.
• Amylase: This enzyme helps living organisms break down carbohydrates in food. Protease: Protease helps our body break down proteins from food into smaller parts for easier absorption.

The benefits don’t end here. Enzymes also enhance detergent effectiveness in cold water. In regions where temperatures drop considerably during winter, people use hot water for washing clothes, which requires a lot of energy. Thanks to detergents with enzymes, now people can wash their clothes even in cold water, thus saving a lot of energy.

Laundry detergent is just one example of a biosolution that we use in our daily lives. There are many more. Let us look at some of them.

^{Biosolutions offer a healthy breakfast}

Rise and shine with biosolutions for a healthier smile!

Within our mouths resides a bustling community of bacteria and fungi. While these microorganisms play a crucial role in maintaining oral health, their unchecked proliferation can spell trouble, resulting in gum infections and unpleasant odors. Thankfully, biosolutions offer a gentle yet

effective approach to managing these microbial populations, promoting oral hygiene without disrupting the delicate balance of our oral microbiome.

Biosolutions also offer a hearty and healthy breakfast

Most of the world’s population is lactose intolerant but milk is a nutritional and tasty part of many people’s breakfast, especially for children. Biosolutions have made it possible to remove lactose (milk sugar) from milk. Not just that, but also adding more dairy fibers to the milk and reducing the addition of sugar for those who prefer low-sugar foods.

Biosolutions also help produce high-protein whey supplements that are naturally yummy with reduced bitterness and have a long shelf life, without additives like preservatives or taste enhancers. They also provide a variety of ways of baking yummier and fluffier bread that stays fresh longer so that your daily bread is more than just that! By the way, if you take vitamin supplements in the morning, yes, they are also made with the help of biosolutions.

Elevated meal-time experiences

As the lunch hour approaches, the tantalizing aroma of freshly prepared meats beckons. Biosolutions play a vital role in ensuring that every slice of cold cut or salami you have in your sandwich bursts with flavor and quality.

Harnessing the power of enzymes, biosolutions offer natural ways of enhancing the taste, texture, and safety of meat products – from tenderising the meat to starter cultures for the fermentation of meat into salami. Moreover, biosolutions also ensure the safety and long shelf life of meat (and dairy) products, reducing the risk of spoilage by bad microbes.

The result? An awesome lunch! So, the next time you indulge in a savory sandwich or a platter of charcuterie, you can appreciate the role of biosolutions in making your lunchtime special.

If you are a veggie lover with a passion for green eating, you owe thanks to biosolutions for enhancing the flavor, texture, and nutritional profile of plant-based foods, making them more delicious and satisfying than ever before. From juicy veggie burgers to creamy “vegurts” (plant-based yogurt alternatives), biosolutions help create mouthwatering meals that offer a planet-friendly alternative to traditional food. And keeping them fresh for longer, too.

^{Easier to remove ink from waste paper with biosolutions.}

That paper on which you took notes in the post-lunch meeting, has biosolutions

Yes, no one likes a post-lunch meeting but when you do have to attend one, you gotta take down the notes! Production of paper requires the processing of wood fibers and pulp. This process requires a lot of energy as well as harmful chemicals to produce good quality paper that is smooth and strong. Biosolutions based on enzymes like endoglucanase do this job but at a fraction of the energy and by replacing the chemicals. Biosolutions also make it easier for paper manufacturers to remove ink from waste paper products and improve their quality, to manufacture new paper, thus making the paper industry more sustainable.
 

As you drive back home, biosolutions help create your car’s leather interior

As you slide into the driver’s seat of your car to drive back home, you love the smooth texture and luxurious feel of the leather interior. Well, you guessed it - biosolutions have a significant role here as well. Traditional methods of converting animal hides into high-quality leather require harsh chemicals, which can harm both workers and the environment. Fortunately, biosolutions are revolutionizing this industry too. Enzymes like proteases and lipases are now used, reducing the need for harmful chemicals.
 

Returning to a clean house every day, without the help of chemicals

As you step into your home after a long day, the welcoming sight of a clean and fresh living space instantly puts you at ease. Thanks to microbial cleaners, based on good bacteria. Even this is a biosolution!

While we use the harshest available chemicals to clean our homes, it is not recommended. Some bacteria are good for us and we don’t have to destroy them with chemicals.

Microbial cleaners use bacteria that are beneficial to humans rather than chemicals to keep your home clean. When you spray this cleaner, the beneficial bacteria spread on the surfaces of your house and remain active on them. These beneficial bacteria colonise the surfaces of your house, outnumbering and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria which cause dirt, grime and bad odors. So, your house retains all the good bacteria as well as stays cleaner and fresh smelling.

There’s more – the microbial cleaners last a long time as well. You don’t have to keep spraying them to keep your house clean. Also, unlike chemicals-based cleaners, microbial cleaners, are safe to use around children and pets, and do not cause skin irritation or respiratory issues.

^{sulfite-free wine with biosolutions.}

Winding up your day with sulfite-free wine or low-calorie beer

As the day comes to an end, you decide to wind down with a glass of wine or low-calorie beer. In the realm of wines and beers, biosolutions have led to a renaissance in their production, minimizing additives like sulfites in wine and reducing calories or even alcohol in beer, without compromising on the taste and flavor we love.

Wines are made by fermenting grapes with yeasts and bacteria. A safe-to-use chemical called sulfites is added to the wine to prevent its spoilage. However, around 10 percent of wine consumers cannot tolerate sulfites, which can cause reactions ranging from mild to severe. Also, people are increasingly preferring organic wines without any chemicals added to them.

As is the case with meat and dairy products, researchers have found bacteria and yeast that are so good at their jobs that they do not just ferment the wines properly for a better taste but can also protect the wine from spoilage, thus reducing or removing altogether the reliance on sulfites.
 

Biosolutions are everywhere, adding a dose of nature to our lives

Yes, you do a lot more activities across the day than just the ones listed above. For almost every product you use across the day, biosolutions either have a mark on it or have a better alternative to offer.

Biosolutions are indeed everywhere, quietly weaving a thread of biology into the fabric of our daily lives – from the moment we wake up to the time we rest our heads at night, these sustainable innovations touch almost every aspect of our everyday lives. So, whenever you get a moment, acknowledge the silent heroes, bettering our lives with biology.