PETpla.net Insider 06 / 2021

MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 22 No. 06/21 www.petpla.net 38 Michelin successfully validated the use of Carbios’ enzymatic recycling technology for PET plastic waste in its tyres Getting the bottle rolling Carbios, a company pioneering new bio-industrial solutions to rein- vent the lifecycle of plastic and textile polymers, and tyre manufacturer Michelin have taken a further step towards developing 100% sustain- able tyres. Michelin has successfully tested and applied Carbios’ enzy- matic recycling process for PET plastic waste, in order to create a high tenacity tyre fibre that meets the tyre-giant’s technical requirements. Enzymatic recycling Carbios’ enzymatic recycling process uses an enzyme capable of depolymerising the PET contained in various plastics or textiles (bottles, trays, polyester clothing, etc.). This technology is claimed to allow the production of 100% recycled and 100% recyclable PET products of the same quality as if they were produced with virgin PET. PET enzymatic recycling in car tyres: a world first The monomers resulting from Carbios’ process, which used coloured and opaque plastic waste such as bottles, once repolymerised in PET, made it possible to obtain a high tenacity fibre meeting Michelin’s tyre requirements. The technical fibre obtained is of the same quality as the one from virgin PET, processed with the same prototype installations. This high tenacity polyester is particularly suitable for tyres, due to its breakage resistance, tough- ness, and thermal stability. Carbios’ enzymatic recycling process therefore en- ables Michelin to get one step closer to its sustainable ambitions, and contributes to the entry of tyres into a true circular economy. Michelin is committed to achieving 40% sustainable materials (of renewable or recycled origin) by 2030 and 100% by 2050. The potential of the process This step constitutes a world-first in the tyre sector and is claimed to confirm the potential of Carbios’ process to engage the industry in a responsible transition towards a sustainable circular economy model. www.carbios.com  www.michelin.com IPR +44 (0) 1254 584210 sales@petmachinery.com petmachinery.com Active for over 25 years, our global network and specialist knowledge makes us the go-to company for the sale or purchase of a PET machine. Commercially savvy, we work closely with our customers and our global network, to make sure everyone gets the best deal. Providing comprehensive advice throughout your sale or purchase; we can arrange dismantling, loading, packing, shipping, specialist insurance and commissioning. If you have amachine to sell or you’re looking to purchase, please get in touch. THE INDUSTRY EXPERTS Every year, 1.6 billion car tyres are sold worldwide by all tyre manufacturers combined. For their production, manufacturers process 800,000 t of PET plastic fibres. Michelin has now successfully validated the use of Carbios’ enzymatic recycling technology for post-consumer PET in its tyres. In Michelin’s case, that is around three billion plastic bottles per year that the company could recycle into technical fibres for the production of its tyres.