Evonik and AMSilk Expand Collaboration to Develop Sustainable Biotech Silk Materials

Evonik and AMSilk, a global leader in advanced silk-based biomaterials, have entered into a long-term agreement to deepen their collaboration to produce sustainable silk on an industrial scale.

Based on an initial production agreement signed in 2023, the two companies have commissioned a production line for AMSilk's high-performance silk at Evonik's Slovakian facility. This innovative biomaterial, produced with minimal environmental impact, is designed for high-end fashion and demanding automotive interiors.

"Our collaboration with AMSilk is a powerful example of how we are working together to shape the future of materials through biotechnology. By scaling up the production of sustainable silk, we are not only expanding our portfolio of precision biosolutions but also creating solutions that improve lives and redefine possibilities," said Guido Skudlarek, Head of Evonik's Healthcare Business Line.
Evonik has established a dedicated production line at its biotech production center in Slovakia. Equipped with advanced infrastructure, upgraded systems, and renewable energy, the facility can consistently produce several tons of AMSilk's high-performance silk per month.

Ctibor Kohutovic, Chief Production Officer of AMSilk, added, "Building on our successful previous collaboration with our trusted partner Evonik, we signed this agreement and jointly designed a dedicated production line for the precise fermentation of AMSilk's biomaterials, resulting in increased yield and efficiency while reducing unit material costs. This sets the stage for our next phase of growth while ensuring reliable supply for our customers."

AMSilk transforms silk protein powder produced by Evonik into high-performance yarns, offering exceptional production quality and compliance, including full supply chain transparency from European manufacturing. AMSilk's biomaterials are designed with sustainability at their core. They are vegan, biodegradable, derived from renewable plant-based carbon, and leave no microplastics at the end of their lifecycle.

AMSilk addresses the entire protein fiber market, including silk, cashmere, and merino wool, which is valued at approximately €26 billion. Of this, the company is targeting a €16 billion addressable market. Evonik leverages its deep fermentation expertise, encompassing everything from strain development and process optimization to large-scale production, to help innovators scale disruptive technologies across the life sciences industry, including pharmaceutical excipients, personal care, advanced foods, and natural homogenous materials. With over 4,000 cubic meters of CDMO fermentation capacity in the United States and Europe, Evonik serves as a one-stop shop for global biotech production, supporting projects of all sizes and complexities.