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Johana Matthews
Biotics and enzymes: a safer, better way
Biotics and enzymes provide a natural, sustainable alternative to harmful chemicals for you and your family.
What are biotics?
Biotics are living (or once-living) components of plants, microbes, etc., that harness the advantages of good bacteria and help offset the need for synthetic chemicals.
What are enzymes?
Enzymes are proteins that act as natural catalysts to efficiently break down dirt and stains so they wash away more easily.
How biotics and enzymes work together
Enzymes break down soils, stains and odors and then the biotics consume them. As long as soil is present and surfaces are adequately damp, these microscopic “cleaners” multiply, continuing to remove traces of grime and odor from surfaces up to days after they’re applied. Biotics also help stabilize enzymes in the products.
Probiotics secrete enzymes on contact
Enzymes bind with soils
Enzymes break down soils
Residual probiotics continue to use organic soils until exhausted
Why Norwex uses biotics and enzymes
Biotics help enzymes function more efficiently and reduce harmful chemicals. They also help maintain well-balanced bacterial biomes in our homes. In personal care products, they help normalize the skin’s microbiome to achieve well-hydrated, healthy-looking skin.
Enzymes help reduce the overall chemical burden on humans and the planet. They’re biodegradable and milder than harsh surfactants, and safe for humans and the environment with proven low toxicity.
Shop products with biotics
Shop products with enzymes
Shop products with both biotics and enzymes
How biotics work
Biotic materials are popular because they’re usually biodegradable and renewable, with minimal impact to the environment. Like enzymes, they don’t release phosphates or other impurities. The term “biotics” includes prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics.
Biotics in household products
Bio-detergents combine fermented bacteria, enzymes and/or essential oils to break down organic soils, dirt and grime, making them easier to remove and greatly reducing the need for chemical surfactants.
They also work very well in cold and room-temperature water, saving energy during washings. In surface-cleaning products, biotics discourage “bad” (pathogenic) bacteria. And with no harmful chemicals in these products, no harmful residue is left behind.
Biotics in personal care products
Prebiotics promote the growth of beneficial bacterial organisms (our natural skin microbiome).
Prebiotic personal care products contain botanically based sugars and oils that provide bacterial nutrition.
The probiotic L. paracasei is a strain of oral probiotic that supports the mouth’s beneficial bacteria and a healthy oral microbiome by helping to keep unhealthy bacteria to a minimum.
Produced during the fermentation process of probiotic bacteria, postbiotics act as skin-benefitting antioxidants and humectants.
The probiotic lysate is also called a postbiotic. Postbiotics have been shown to have hydrating and antioxidant effects in personal care products.
How enzymes work
Enzymes target specific proteins, fats and other organic matter, so they provide many advantages over synthetic cleaning chemicals. They’re also much more compatible with the environment as they don’t release phosphates or other impurities.
They’re efficient at breaking down organic stains, and just a small amount can provide significant cleaning benefits. This offsets large amounts of chemical ingredients required for many products to be effective.
Types of enzymes and what they do
- Amylase: Breaks down starch/carbohydrate molecules like egg, sugar, sauce, ice cream, gravy, chocolate, grass
- Cellulase: Used to break down stains in fibrous materials like cotton/cellulose material. They also remove particulate soil and reduce fabric graying and pilling.
- Lipase: Breaks down fat molecules like oil and grease, sweat, lipstick, salad dressing
- Mannanase: Breaks down mannans (sugars) and effectively removes food stains containing guar gum or locust bean gum
- Pectate Lyase: Degrades pectin molecules like fresh fruit, tomatoes, oranges, bananas and berries
- Protease (Subtilisin): Breaks down protein-based soils like blood, urine, food, feces, wine and other beverages
Did you know?
Because a single enzyme typically catalyzes around 10,000 chemical reactions per second, only a tiny amount is needed to have a huge effect, making them perfect for concentrated products. In fact, multi-enzyme blends can replace up to 25% of the surfactants in a typical laundry detergent without compromising the cleaning effect, resulting in a more sustainable, yet effective, detergent.
