French biotechnology company Carbios and Denmark-based Novozymes, a leading provider of biological solutions, have entered into an exclusive long-term global strategic partnership designed to ensure the long-term production and supply of Carbios’ proprietary PET-degrading enzymes at an industrial scale.
Carbios has developed and patented enzymatic PET-recycling technology that will be deployed at the world’s first biological PET-recycling plant, which Carbios is realising in partnership with Indorama Ventures in Longlaville (France). This new reference plant follows the successful start-up of its demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand in 2021. Construction will begin later this year, with both building and operating permits filed with local authorities. Production at the plant, which will have a processing capacity of 50,000 tonnes of waste per year, is set to start in 2025
Carbios and Novozymes have collaborated since 2019 on the development of enzyme-based solutions within the PET-recycling space. The companies have also worked on enzymatic routes to enhance the biodegradation of PLA. This technology aims to create a new generation of plastics that are 100% compostable at ambient temperatures, even in domestic conditions, by integrating enzymes into the heart of the plastic product.
Building on the current Joint Development Agreement (JDA), the new agreement further extends the collaboration to include the development, optimisation and production of enzymes that will subsequently be supplied by Novozymes to all licensees of Carbios’ technology.
The new agreement further also grants both parties exclusivity in the partnership field.