Enzymes are vital for the metabolism of plants, animals and humans. They ensure that certain chemical reactions can be made without complications. In the human body, for example, the enzymes belonging to the class of proteases break down the protein ingested with food into its basic building blocks, the amino acids.

The power of enzymes is also used in washing and dishwashing machines: Proteases specifically break down protein-containing soiling, lipases remove grease stains - even at low temperatures. This is why enzymes are important ingredients in detergents and automatic dishwashing products. During the life cycle of a detergent and automatic dishwashing detergent - from raw material extraction to disposal in the wastewater treatment plant - most of the energy is consumed during the wash or rinse cycle itself. This is because, as life cycle analyses show, the main energy requirement and therefore most of the carbon dioxide emissions are caused by using the washing machine or dishwasher. At the same time, energy consumption at high temperatures is considerably higher than at low temperatures. It is largely thanks to enzymes that modern detergents and automatic dishwashing detergents deliver excellent results even at low temperatures.