A consortium led by cleantech company Carbios and L’Oréal has just been joined by key global drinks brands, such as Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe in an attempt to commercialise an enzymatic technology for the recycling of plastics.
The partnership’s goal is to work towards maximising the Carbios technology which claims to use highly specific enzymes to recycle “much broader PET plastics and polyester fibres feedstock than other recycling technologies.” In the process, recycled PET is created, which is equivalent to virgin PET, and it can be used for applications like bottles and other forms of packaging.
The way in which this technology works is by breaking down all forms of PET plastics, including clear, coloured, opaque and multilayer, and polyester fibres into their original building blocks, using limited heat and no pressure or solvents.
The French cleantech company said it had “recently” achieved a world first using its enzymatic technology to create PET bottles from 100% recycled plastics.
The companies joined a four-year agreement, which targets to bring Carbios’ PET-enhanced recycling technology to the market and increase the availability of high-quality recycled plastics to fulfil the partners’ sustainability commitments. The collaboration includes technical milestones and support for the efficient supply of consumer-grade, 100% recycled PET plastics for global markets.
“Their [new partners’] contribution will accelerate our common ambition and help to industrialise our recycling technology, which brings a breakthrough solution in the treatment of plastic waste,” said Jean-Claude Lumaret, CEO of Carbios.
According to packaging & development VP Philippe Thuvien, L’Oréal is counting on the technology to partially contribute its 2025 recycling goals. “We are convinced that by working together with our partners, we will succeed in creating a more sustainable world based on circular economy principles,” Thuvien added.
By 2025, the beauty brand is aiming to produce 50% of its plastic components from recycled materials or bio-sourced.
