Global Companies Join Forces to Boost PET Plastic Recyclability

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Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe have joined a consortium, funded by Carbios and L’Oréal, dedicated to supporting the world’s first enzymatic technology for the recycling of plastics.

Carbios has developed a sustainable technology which utilizes specific enzymes that can recycle broader PET plastics and polyester fibers feedstock than other recycling technologies. The process creates recycled PET, equivalent to virgin PET, that can be used for applications such as bottles and other forms of packaging.

Under the terms of the four-year agreement, consortium partners’ aim to bring Carbios’ PET-enhanced recycling technology to the market and increase the availability of recycled plastics to fulfill their sustainability commitments. The collaboration includes technical milestones and support for the efficient supply of consumer-grade, 100% recycled PET plastics for global markets.

Related: L’Oréal’s Sustainability Strides: By the Numbers

“We are thrilled to welcome Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe into the Consortium we have created with L’Oréal,” said Carbios CEO Jean-Claude Lumaret. “Their contribution will accelerate our common ambition and help to industrialize our recycling technology, which brings a breakthrough solution in the treatment of plastic waste.”

Philippe Thuvien, packaging and development vice president at L’Oréal, added: “We are convinced that Carbios’ technology is a new step forward, in addition to the mechanical and chemical recycling that contribute to reaching our 2025 goals: 50% of our products’ plastic components is recycled or bio-sourced. We know that by working together with our partners, we will succeed in creating a more sustainable world based on circular economy principles.”

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