Bénédicte Garbil from Carbios dives into how the French pioneer is rethinking the end-of-life of plastics, in particular PET, with a bio-recycling technology based on engineering enzymes and why it required the building of a new ecosystem of companies working together.
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The limitations of PET plastics Recycling
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues today. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), used widely in packaging, textiles, and various other industries, is particularly problematic due to its persistence and difficulty in recycling. Traditional recycling methods, such as mechanical recycling, often fall short in handling contaminated or complex plastic waste, leading to degradation of material quality over multiple cycles. Today, PET fibre-to-fibre recycling (also known as polyester in the textile industry) only makes up 1% globally!
Enter Carbios: A Green Tech Pioneer
Carbios, a French industrial biotech company founded in 2011, is pioneering a novel approach to tackle the plastic pollution problem. Their groundbreaking technology focuses on enzymatic recycling, using specially engineered enzymes to break down and recycle PET plastics efficiently. This innovative method offers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional recycling methods.
How Enzymatic Recycling Works
Carbios' technology hinges on the use of enzymes—proteins that accelerate chemical reactions. Unlike natural enzymes, which haven't evolved to break down plastics due to their relatively recent invention, Carbios has engineered specific enzymes to tackle PET. These enzymes act like molecular scissors, cutting the PET into its original monomers, which can then be reassembled into new, high-quality plastic products. This process ensures that the recycled PET is as good as new, maintaining high standards necessary for food-grade and cosmetic applications.
Building an Ecosystem for Bio-Recycling
Carbios is not just about innovative technology; it's also about creating an ecosystem that supports sustainable recycling. They have established a network of facilities including an R&D center in Toulouse, a headquarters and pilot plant in Clermont-Ferrand, and are constructing the world's first bio-recycling plant in Longue-Laville. This plant will process 50,000 tons of waste annually, equivalent to 2 billion bottles or 3 million t-shirts, significantly reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or incinerators.
A Global Impact
Carbios operates on a licensing model, making their technology accessible worldwide. This approach ensures that recycling plants can be established close to waste sources, minimizing transportation and associated emissions. Their partnerships with major brands like L'Oréal, Nestlé, ON, and Patagonia demonstrate the wide-ranging applications and high demand for recycled PET. In order to implement this new type of recycling technology it requires a joint effort across different value chains, often resulting in the formation of new technology ecosystems.
Image source: bioCircular Loop Podcast, Episode #4
Tackling Textile Waste - a viable alternative to incineration and landfills
Beyond packaging, Carbios is addressing the massive issue of textile waste. Polyester, commonly used in fabrics, constitutes a significant portion of PET demand but has low recycling rates (globally around 1% of polyester fibres are recycled). Carbios' enzymes can effectively break down polyester textiles, transforming them into reusable monomers. This capability is crucial for reducing the environmental impact of fast fashion and large-scale textile manufacturing. You can now make T-shirts from plastic bottles.
Sustainability and Economic Viability
Carbios' process is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically viable. The enzymatic depolymerization operates at lower temperatures compared to other recycling methods, reducing energy consumption. Additionally, their technology can handle diverse and contaminated feedstocks, which are often cheaper and more abundant. Life cycle assessments have shown that Carbios' process cuts CO2 emissions by 57% compared to producing virgin PET.
Overcoming Challenges
Scaling up this revolutionary technology poses challenges, but Carbios is well on its way. Their plug-and-play approach ensures that existing PET manufacturers and converters can easily adopt their technology without extensive modifications. Regulatory acceptance has been smooth, given that the monomers produced are identical to those from virgin PET, bypassing the need for new certifications.
Looking Ahead
Carbios' vision is a future where plastic waste is no longer a burden on the environment. By making non-recyclable waste recyclable and producing high-quality recycled PET, they are setting new standards for the circular economy. With continuous innovation and collaboration across industries, Carbios is paving the way for a more sustainable and plastic-free world.
Key Takeaways
Carbios has developed enzymatic processes to recycle plastic, particularly PET, into high-quality monomers that can be used to produce new plastics.
Their technology is more sustainable and environmentally friendly compared to mechanical and chemical recycling methods.
Carbios' bio-recycling plant in France can process 50,000 tons of waste per year and is focused on recycling non-recyclable waste.
Their business model is based on licensing their technology to make it accessible in many countries.
Their customers come from various industries, including cosmetics, food and beverage packaging, and textiles.
The technology enables the production of 100% waste-based PET, reducing reliance on oil-based plastics.
Traceability along the value chain is ensured through the short loop of Carbios' technology, and external certification is important to build trust and prevent greenwashing.
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