PETpla.net Insider 07+08 / 2021

BOTTLE MAKING 31 PETplanet Insider Vol. 22 No. 07+08/21 www.petpla.net The announcement and dem- onstrations come after 10 years’ research and development by Carbios to create a process using an enzyme that naturally occurs in compost heaps, which normally breaks down leaf membranes of dead plants. Carbios adapted the enzyme and fine-tuned the technology to break down any kind of PET plastic, regard- less of colour or complexity, into its basic building blocks, which can then be turned back into like-new, virgin- quality plastic. The new material can be used in food-grade rPET; plastics that would otherwise go to waste or be incinerated, can now be brought back into a continuous circular system of recycling. The breakthrough biotechnology succeeds in breaking down 97% of plastic in 16 hours, which is 10,000 times more efficient than any biologi- cal plastic recycling trial to date. While recycled PET bottles already exist in the marketplace, this technology, when developed at industrial scale, will help increase the amount of PET plastic that can be recycled. The brands involved in the con- sortium will work to scale the new process to help meet the global demand for sustainable packaging solutions. In September 2021, Carbios will break ground on a demonstration plant, before launching a 40,000 t capacity industrial facility, by 2025. Enzymatic recycling overcomes the issue of degradation in conven- tional recycling and can be used on any type of PET plastic. Because Car- bios’ recycling process works under mild conditions, it could also lower the carbon footprint of PET waste treat- ment by saving 30% of CO 2 emissions compared to a conventional end of life mix of incineration and landfill, taking virgin PET production substitution into account. “In a world first, we have created food-grade clear bottles from enzymatically recycled coloured and complex plastic, with identical proper- ties to virgin PET,” said Carbios’ CEO Jean Claude Lumaret. “In partnership with the Consortium, we have proved the viability of the technology with the world’s leading brands. This is a truly transformational innovation that could finally fully close the loop on PET plastic supply globally, so that it never becomes waste.” November 7-9, 2021, Dubai At the KRONES booth A1-34 German Technology Innovative hotrunner optiRun Jean-Francois Briois, Head of Packaging Material Science and Envi- ronmental Sustainability for Nestlé Waters global R&D also welcomed the success of the 10-year project. “It is very exciting to see that the quality of the prototype bottles made from 100% coloured recycled PET materials is virtually identical to clear virgin PET,” he said. “When we reach industrial scale, this enzymatic recycling tech- nology will enable us to produce high- quality rPET bottles and help Nestlé in its journey to reduce the use of virgin plastics.” L’Oréal has been working with Carbios on the project since 2017. Jacques Playe, L’Oréal’s Global Head of Packaging and Product Develop- ment, described it as a promising innovation for the coming years and a demonstration of the company’s circularity initiative that was embarked upon more than 15 years ago. “The global issue of plastic waste requires transformational thinking, creative partnerships and innovative brands coming together to seek out new solutions,” observed Ron Khan, Chief R&D Officer, Suntory Beverage & Food Europe, which has the ambition of achieving 100% sustainable plastic. Carbios intends to license its tech- nology to PET manufacturers world- wide, with the intention of accelerat- ing the global adoption of enzymatic recycling for all kinds of PET based products. www.carbios.com www.nestle.com The technology aims to endlessly recy- cle plastic while maintaining properties that are equivalent to virgin material.