- The plant is located near Lyon in France's Chemistry Valley.
- The first phase of operations is scheduled for Q2 2021.
- The plant aims to produce monomers for regulatory validation.
- TechnipFMC is advising on engineering and construction.
Project Overview
Carbios has initiated the construction of an industrial demonstration plant for enzymatic recycling of PET plastic. The plant is situated near Lyon, in France’s Chemistry Valley, a hub for innovation and industrial production in the chemical sector. TechnipFMC is providing engineering and construction support for this project.
Objectives and Timeline
The primary goal of the plant is to generate technical data to define key parameters for each step of the enzymatic recycling process. This data will be crucial for planning future industrial units. The first phase of operations is set to begin in the second quarter of 2021, aiming to establish comprehensive engineering documents for the process, from waste to monomers, for future industrial units with an estimated capacity of 50 to 100 kt per year.
Validation and Production
The demonstration plant will validate the technical, environmental, and economic performance of Carbios’ technology. It will also produce batches of monomers for technical and regulatory validation by future licensees. This step is essential for ensuring the technology meets industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Key Figures
Martin Stephan, Chief Operating Officer of Carbios, highlighted the strong market demand for this technology, particularly from major brand-owners like L’Oréal, Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo, and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe. Antoine Sévenier, Industrial Development Director of Carbios, emphasized the plant's role in testing different waste streams and adapting the process to various collection systems.
