What are the advantages of using enzymes?

Enzymes are biological molecules - typically proteins - that act as catalysts. They speed up chemical reactions within cells by lowering the activation energy required for the reactions to occur. Using enzymes offers several advantages: 

• By catalyzing reactions at high rates, often by several orders of magnitude, enzymes facilitate faster production and increased productivity in a wide range of industrial applications 
• Enzymes are highly specific in their action and catalyze specific biochemical reactions. The specificity of enzymes allows for better control over the desired reaction, which increases efficiency as well as product consistency. 
• Enzyme-catalyzed reactions are more environmentally friendly because of the ability of enzymes to function efficiently in mild reaction conditions such as moderate temperature and neutral pH. 
• They are obtained from natural, renewable sources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms and are biodegradable. 
• Enzymes have diverse applications and can be used for a wide range of processes in the pharmaceutical, food, beverage, textile, pharmaceutical, biofuels, and detergents industries.