Recycling innovator Carbios has strengthened its collaboration with biological solutions provider Novozymes to secure the long-term supply of its PET-degrading enzymes.
Carbios is to start production at what will be the world’s first biological PET plastic recycling plant in 2025, and will use Novozymes’ product to process upwards of 50,000 tonnes of waste per annum.
Emmanuel Ladent, Carbios’ CEO, commented: “Novozymes’ continued support is testament to our joint commitment to achieve a truly circular economy for plastics and textiles that will benefit the environment and be economically viable for all business partners.”
Carbios’ solution upcycles post-consumer PET using enzymes to depolymerise fibres back into virgin-grade monomers – a process which can otherwise be both a chemically and energy intensive process.
It has worked with Novozymes since 2019, sourcing the enzymes which enable plastics to be broken down into PTA (terephthalic acid) and MEG (mono ethylene glycol), which form the foundations of recycled materials.
Over recent years, at a demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand, Carbios has exhibited the viability of its technology, most notably by producing bottles from textile waste in increasing quantities. Processed waste can also be used in the manufacture of polyester fibre.
From 2025, industrial scale recycling will commence, boosting the global availability of recycled fibre, from a site set to be constructed this year.
“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Novozymes, the world leader in biological solutions, and to build on our strong existing relationship to provide a sustainable supply solution for our future customers,” noted Ladent.
Novozymes’ vice president of marketing for Novozymes’ agricultural and biological solutions department, added: “We are excited to advance our collaboration with Carbios by signing this exclusive agreement and to support the next phase of scaling this new business of biological plastic recycling. By providing biological solutions at a large scale, Novozymes is pleased to contribute to bringing Carbios’ bio recycling of PET plastics and fibres to market.”
