and Puma . Emmanuel Ladent – CEO since 2021 – told us what Carbios can do to encourage a circular economy of plastics .
“ At Carbios , we have created two disruptive technologies reaching industrial and commercial scale : the biorecycling of PET ( the second most widely used plastic found in packaging , bottles , and textiles ) and the biodegradation of PLA ( a biosourced plastic ). Both technologies rely on enzymes to degrade plastic , an example of which is Carbios ’ biological recycling of PET , relying on enzymes that breakdown PET into its molecular components .”
Expanding upon this , Ladent noted how the technology could be used to enable the recycling of plastics with an end to making it a product of the circular economy : “ Our innovative , biological , PET-recycling technology has the potential to be a game changer in the fight against plastic pollution . Brands in the packaging and fashion industries are looking for new technologies to reduce their products ’ environmental footprint and source sustainable raw material . Carbios ’ technology enables them to reduce their dependence on fossil-sourced PET and instead use recycled PET ( r-PET ) made from plastic and textile waste . Carbios ’ biotechnology paves the way for true circularity of PET , as plastic or textile waste can be recycled to once again become virgin-like , quality PET – for example , a t-shirt can become a t-shirt again .”
The challenges in implementing might be there , but the rewards are vast . Though there are indeed many players in the value chain , with such technology properly implemented , plastic pollution may very well be considerably ameliorated , allowing for a sustainable circular economy as we move forward . sustainabilitymag . com 139