Carbios and Indorama Ventures announced plans to join forces and build a “first of its kind” manufacturing plant. Aiming to be operational by 2025, the plant will use Carbios’ PET bio-recycling technology at Indorama Ventures’ PET production site in France.
Carbios’ C-ZYME technology can allegedly depolymerise any form of PET waste into its core monomers. These can then be used to manufacture PET that the company claims is 100% recycled and infinitely recyclable.
According to Carbios and Indorama Ventures, the goal of the latest collaboration is “to build and operate the world’s first industrial-scale enzymatic PET bio-recycling plant” in Longlaville, France. The plant will have a processing capacity estimated at 50,000 tonnes of post-consumer PET waste annually.
Indorama Ventures says it will co-invest in the project if the feasibility study first conducted for the industrialization of Carbios’ technology on Indorama Ventures’ French production site proves a successful completion of these technical and economical evaluations.
The estimated capital investment required for the project is €150 million for Carbios’ core technology, including an additional purification step, which has been integrated into the process. An estimated €50 million investment will also be assigned for the infrastructure preparation of the site, according to the companies.
Carbios added that it is expecting to finalise non-dilutive financial support from the French government Grand-Est Region. However, it will be conditional on the notification to the European Commission.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French minister of industry, said: “The announcement by Carbios of a flagship project of enzymatic plastic recycling demonstrates our ability to foster the emergence of innovative industry leaders with cutting edge technologies for the energy transition. It is a success for industrial startups in France as well as a key milestone in the France 2030 strategy, making our industry ready to meet the needs of the Transition.”
Jean Rottner, president of Grand-Est Region, adds: “Carbios reference plant is fully integrated within Grand-Est Region ambition to become a leading territory for PET circular economy. This project represents a first significant milestone in building our complete ecosystem.”
Emmanuel Ladent, CEO of Carbios, says: “With this first medium-sized plant, we want to become the world reference for the Circular Economy of plastics and textiles. By engaging in such a partnership with Indorama Ventures, we confirm our commitment to pursue our initial industrial development in France. This plant will pave the way towards international commercial and industrial deployment.”
D K Agarwal, CEO of Indorama Ventures, concludes: “We are pleased to implement Carbios’ innovative and transformative technology at our Longlaville site. Bio-recycled PET addresses customers’ growing demand to contribute to a cleaner planet through high-quality plastics while decreasing the use of hydrocarbons.”
According to the companies, the project could also create 150 direct and indirect full-time jobs. Carbios notes that the collaboration will meet the growing demand from large consumer goods companies, including its partners and shareholders, which includes L’Oréal, Michelin, L’Occitane, Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo, and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe.