What is enzymatic recycling?

The enzymatic recycling process allows the recycling of all types of PET waste, including clear, opaque, complex, soiled PET or PET from textiles (polyesters) to produce new materials.

Current thermomechanical recycling processes have limitations: only clear plastic can be recycled in closed loops, with a loss of quality in each cycle, making it difficult to obtain new products from 100% recycled PET.

Enzymatic recycling offers a solution: this unique process uses an enzyme capable of specifically depolymerising the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) contained in the various plastics or textiles. The monomers resulting from the depolymerisation process are purified to be re-polymerised into PET of a quality equivalent to the virgin PET obtained from the petrochemical industry.

Landbell Group is partnering with CARBIOS, a pioneer in the development and industrialisation of biological technologies, to reinvent the life cycle of plastic and textiles. Through this partnership, Landbell Group will ensure that the problematic PET fractions, such as multilayered, coloured and opaque trays from packaging waste and polyester textile waste, are redirected towards recycling.

Carbios will process PET waste from packaging and textiles at its recycling plant in Longlaville, France. Commissioning is planned for 2026, with an input capacity of 50 kt/year of prepared PET waste.