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Table 1: Examples of Enzyme classes and
corresponding functionalities in the textile industry supply chain.
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EXECUTIVE P

Enzymes act as catalysts: substances which, in very small amounts, are able to significantly speed up
the rate of specific chemical reactions by significantly reducing the activation energy of the reaction; for
example, the building up or breaking down of organic matter such as carbohydrates, fats and other
proteins. Enzymes are highly specialized in their functionality; with each enzyme acting only on a re-
stricted number of substances, and only catalysing one specific reaction. For example, the starch de-
grading enzymes (amylases), present in human saliva break down starch into smaller molecules; which
can then be degraded and absorbed when entering the gastrointestinal tract.
This specificity of enzymes makes them very useful in catalysing desired reactions in industrial pro-
cesses. Consequently, enzymes are extensively used in several industries including in technical (e.g.
detergent, starch, textile, pulp & paper and fuel alcohol), food (e.g. dairy, baking, brewing, wine and juice)
and in animal feed arenas. Commercial enzyme preparations are produced by the carefully controlled
fermentation of pure cultures of selected strains of non-pathogenic bacteria, yeasts or fungi.
Enzymes are grouped into several classes according to their activity: some of the most important classes
to the textile supply chain and their contribution to manufacturing and finished product quality are men-
tioned in Table 1.
For all enzyme classes the same principles apply regarding the safe handling of enzyme-containing

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