Carbios, one of the leaders in the development and commercialization of biological technologies for re - inventing the life cycle of plastics and textiles, has confirmed the final key phase of the CE-PET research project, supported by the French State as part of the investment opportunities for the future program, now integrated into France 2030 and operated by ADEME. Carbios coordinated the project with its academic partner, INRAE3, via the TWB4 and TBI5 joint research centers.
The pilot phase of the four-year CE-PET project validated the enzymatic PET recycling procedure in preparation for the industrial PET waste processing demonstration, which has been operational since September 2021. Environmentally and economically, the method's early feasibility has enabled additional development toward its industrialization.
The second important achievement of the CE-PET project was the validation of the technique on textile waste at a pilot scale, a significant accomplishment given that textiles account for about 60% of the worldwide PET market. PET bottles are now the primary raw material utilized to produce recycled polyester fiber. The ability to apply Carbios's technology to textile waste expands its application options, particularly in light of new European rules mandating the separate collection of textile waste beginning January 1, 2025.
Key technological accomplishments of the CE-PET undertaking
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The creation and optimization of an enzyme for the depolymerization of PET plastic and textile waste.
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Replicability of process performance at the pilot size and design of operational units for process transfer at the industrial demonstration scale
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The characterization and specifications of PET feedstocks that may be processed using the method
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The manufacturing of 100% r-PET bottles from PET plastic and textile waste that are appropriate for food contact applications
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The production of 100% r-PET food-contact bottles from PET plastic and textile waste
About Carbios
Carbios, founded in 2011 by Truffle Capital, is a green biotech firm that develops biological and revolutionary methods. It breaks down any form of PET (the primary polymer in bottles, trays, and polyester fabrics) into its fundamental components, which may subsequently be reused to make new PET plastics of comparable quality to virgin ones. This PET breakthrough was recently acknowledged in a scholarly publication published on the front cover of the famous Nature as the first of its type worldwide. In 2021, Carbios successfully launched its demonstration facility in Clermont-Ferrand. It has now taken another critical step toward industrializing its technique by constructing a one-of-a-kind unit in collaboration with Indorama Ventures.