Chemical recycling specialist, Carbios and PET plastics producer, Indorama Ventures, are partnering to build an enzymatic PET bio-recycling plant in Longlaville, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France, with a processing capacity of 50,000 tonnes of post-consumer PET waste per year – the equivalent of 2 billion PET bottles or 2.5 billion PET trays.

The project's capital investment is expected to be around €150 million for Carbios core technology, with an additional €50 million for site infrastructure preparation.

Based on an offer already received from the French Minister of Industry, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, and the President of the Grand-Est Region, Jean Rottner, Carbios hopes to finalize considerable non-dilutive financial support from the French Government and the Grand-Est Region in the coming months.

Following Eastman's announcement in January of a $1 billion material-to-material molecular polyester recycling facility in France, this financial support will be conditioned on notice to the European Commission and contractualization by French authorities.

This current project is estimated to generate approximately 150 full-time jobs, both direct and indirect.

Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery, said that they’re delighted that Carbios and Indorama Ventures have chosen France to develop their first 100% bio-recycled PET manufacturing factory. Carbios has developed a breakthrough technology and technique based on cutting-edge science that permits the efficient transformation of plastic waste into unique valuable products. This ground-breaking project exemplifies the government's vision for France 2030 – preparing for the difficulties of the coming decade. To establish a more circular economy, biotechnology and increased industrial ambition must be combined.

Carbios is a pioneer in the development of enzymatic solutions for the end-of-life of plastic and textile polymers, with a demonstration unit in Clermont-Ferrand already up and running.

Emmanuel Ladent, Carbios CEO, said that they want to become the international standard for the circular economy of plastics and textiles with this first medium-sized operation. By partnering with Indorama Ventures, they are reaffirming their commitment to pursuing their initial industrial development in France. This plant will pave the way for commercial and industrial deployment on a global scale. Their owners, partners, the French government, and the Grand-Est Region have all shared their aspirations and vision for a profitable circular economy, and They are grateful for their support.

Both parties agreed to complete a due diligence procedure after the positive results of Indorama Ventures' initial investigation on the technical soundness of Carbios technology during the past several months. At the Indorama Ventures French production location, a feasibility study for the industrialization of Carbios technology will be done. Indorama Ventures will co-invest in the project if these technical and economic studies are completed successfully.

D K Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer of Indorama Ventures, said that they’re excited to use Carbios' cutting-edge and transformational technology at their Longlaville location. Bio-recycled PET satisfies customers' rising desire to contribute to a cleaner environment by using high-quality plastics that use less hydrocarbons.