Carbios

France-based Carbios has developed a technology to recycle Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics and polyester fibers using an enzymatic process (supercharging a natural enzyme found in compost heaps that breaks down leaf membranes). The process can break down all kinds of PET plastics regardless of color and complexity and create recycled alternatives to virgin PET that can be used across various packaging solutions. 

In October 2023 , Carbios started its textile preparation line at its demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand. The process is expected to have a capacity of 300 kg of textiles per hour. By 2020, Carbios had secured 38 patent families globally, 18 of them for its recycling process and PET-degrading enzymes.

Key customers and partnerships

In 2017, L’oreal formed a consortium with Carbios and global brands including Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo, and Suntory Beverage & Food, to promote the development and commercialization of Carbios’ patented recycling technology for packaging applications. In 2019, L’oreal invested in a minority stake in Carbios through its venture capital fund BOLD (Business Opportunities for L’Oréal Development.).  In July 2021, Carbios, along with the consortium of aforementioned global brands, introduced the world’s first food-grade (PET) plastic bottles made from enzymatically recycled plastic. 

In April 2021, Carbios also partnered with the tire maker Michelin to use Carbios’ enzymatic process to create high-tenacity tire fiber. To keep up with the demand, the company partnered with an undisclosed PET producer to establish a Carbios PET recycling plant on one of the PET producer’s production sites.

In July 2022, the company partnered with textile brands Patagonia, Puma, ON, and Salomon to accelerate the introduction of Carbios’ bio-recycling technology in the textile industry.

In November 2023 , Carbios secured a EUR 230 million (USD 243 million) investment to build a PET bio-recycling plant on a 13.7 acre portion of Indorama Ventures’ existing PET plant site in France. The plant is expected to be able to process ~50,000 tons of post-consumer PET waste yearly, and is expected to be operational by 2025.

Funding and financials

In May 2023, the company secured more than EUR 54 million (~USD 59 million) grant from the French state for the industrialization of its unique PET bio-recycling process.