In what it terms a “game-changer” for PET recycling and a circular economy, green chemistry company Carbios (Saint-Beauzire / France; www.carbios.fr) said it has successfully made the first PET bottles from 100% recycled terephthalic acid (rPTA).

Its enzymatic recycling process breaks down PET plastics waste back into its original components – PTA and MEG – see Plasteurope.com of 21.03.2018. “We have successfully developed the first biological process with which all kinds of PET plastics waste can be broken down into its original components and reused to produce virgin plastic products for applications such as PET bottles,” said chief scientific officer Alain Marty. “This new step shows the strong potential of Carbios' enzymatic technology and provides a breakthrough solution to help solve society's growing waste problem.”

Carbios’ proprietary technology, which is based on using bioengineered enzymes, can turn PET waste into its original raw materials at a rate of 97% in 16 hours. The company added that it has now also shown that PET can be made with 100% rPTA, using all kinds of post-consumer PET bottles, including clear, coloured, opaque and complex.

CEO Jean-Claude Lumaret added that construction of a demonstration plant will start later in 2019, with the company aiming to take a leadership role as a global licence provider for the recycling of PET plastics and fibres. Late in 2018, Carbios signed a letter of intent with PVC producer Kem One (Lyon / France; www.kemone.com) for an industrial demonstration PET recycling plant in Saint-Fons / France – see Plasteurope.com of 30.11.2018.