Carbios, Novozymes collaborate on recycling of PET

France-based green biotech company Carbios and Denmark-based biological solutions provider Novozymes have announced an exclusive long-term global strategic partnership.

The companies say the agreement ensures the long-term production and supply of Carbios’ proprietary polyethylene terephthalate- (PET-) degrading enzymes at an industrial scale for a biological PET recycling plant that is due to start production in 2025 in Longlaville, France, as well as Carbios’ future licensee customers.

The two companies have had a partnership since 2019 to develop enzyme-based solutions and address the sustainability challenge of plastic pollution, both within PET recycling and PLA biodegradation. Under the new agreement, the companies say they will extend their collaboration to develop, optimize and produce enzymes that will subsequently be supplied by Novozymes to all licensees of Carbios’ technology.

According to the companies, the partnership supports the large-scale industrial deployment of Carbios’ patented PET recycling technology, starting with Carbios’future industrial unit in Longlaville, which they claim will be the first biological PET recycling plant. Construction will begin later this year, with production set to start in 2025, and the processing capacity will be 50,000 tons of scrap per year.

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Novozymes, the world leader in biological solutions, and to build on our strong existing relationship to provide a sustainable supply solution for our future customers,” Carbios CEO Emmanuel Ladent says. “Novozymes’ continued support is testament to our joint commitment to achieve a truly circular economy for plastics and textiles that will benefit the environment and be economically viable for all business partners.”

Novozymes Vice President of Marketing, Agricultural and Industrial Biosolutions, Hans Ole Klingenberg, says, “We are excited to advance our collaboration with Carbios by signing this exclusive agreement and to support the next phase of scaling this new business of biological plastic recycling. By providing biological solutions at a large scale, Novozymes is pleased to contribute in bringing Carbios’ biorecycling of PET plastics and fibers to market.”