Carbios has appointed Belgium-based De Smet Engineers & Contractors (DSEC) to see through the construction of its PET depolymerisation plant in Longlaville, France, totted as the world’s first PET biorecycling plant.
The French biochemistry company officially acquired the land where the new facility is being built from Indorama Ventures on Feb. 14, 2024. It obtained building and site operating permits in October 2023.
In June 2023, Carbios and Indorama Ventures signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a joint venture for the construction of the facility, based on the enzymatic depolymerisation process developed by Carbios. The technology enables the efficient and solvent-free recycling of PET plastic and textile waste into virgin-equivalent products.
DSEC has now been entrusted with the project management and detailed engineering, including procurement assistance and management of Carbios partners, to ensure the construction of the plant, due for commissioning in 2025.