L’Occitane en Provence and Carbios present a PET bottle made from enzymatic recycling
Carbios and the cosmetics brand L’Occitane en Provence present a bottle in transparent PET made entirely from enzymatic recycling for a shower oil from the Amande range. In collaboration with converter Pinard Beauty Pack, this bottle exemplifies a shared desire to build en efficient European recycling sector to accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastic, the companies say, and meet brands’ commitments for more sustainable packaging solutions. The bottle is on display at Carbios’ Stand D02 at “Edition Spéciale” by LuxePack, the trade show dedicated to sustainable premium packaging, to be held on 4-5 June 2024 at the Carreau du Temple in Paris.
The 100% recycled PET bottle from Carbios’ enzymatic depolymerisation process was made with a European value chain committed to responsible consumption of sustainable materials. The bottle’s production began with the local supply of PET waste (already collected, sorted and prepared) to the Carbios industrial demonstrator in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The waste used consisted of coloured bottles, multilayer trays and mechanical recycling residues, none of which are currently recycled using conventional technologies. Carbios deconstructed the PET waste into its original monomers, PTA and MEG, using its biorecycling technology. The resulting monomers were then repolymerised into new, fully recycled PET resins within Europe. In Oyonnax, France, these resins were blow-moulded by Pinard Beauty Pack to create bottles according to L’Occitane’s specifications, and then filled with its shower oil at its Manosque plant.
This European approach is claimed to optimise the environmental benefits of the technology and the life cycle analysis (LCA) of each product, by reducing transport distances and integrating local collection and production processes. To meet the needs of international brands, similar chains will have to be established worldwide, drawing inspiration from this example, says Carbios.
