Carbios, a biotech start-up, stated that its first commercial plant, which is set to open in 2025, would play a critical role in the battle against plastic pollution by providing an industrial-scale solution for the enzymatic depolymerisation of PET waste, accelerating the circular economy for plastic and textiles.
According to the agreement, De Smet will be in charge of project management and detailed engineering, as well as procurement support and management of Carbios partners, to enable the plant’s commissioning in Longlaville, France.
Carbios CEO Emmanuel Ladent stated, “De Smet was chosen after a thorough bidding process, and we are very confident in our successful collaboration. De Smet has a proven track record of developing and managing large industrial projects, as well as substantial experience with water-based technology.With our combined experience and common desire, this cooperation is a key step toward realizing Carbios’ vision of a sustainable future for plastic and textiles.”
De Smet Engineers and Contractors, CEO Dimitri de Suraÿ stated, “We are proud to support Carbios’ groundbreaking investment, which aligns perfectly with our ambition to contribute to the environmental transition by implementing novel biotechnology processes and boosting the bio-economy. We are happy that Carbios has entrusted us with the plant’s development and are totally dedicated to the project’s success.”
Last October, Carbios opened its textile preparation line at its demonstration factory in France. Carbios stated at the time that their textile preparation line sought to improve the sorting and preparation of textiles, particularly those with difficult components such as zips and buttons, resulting in greater yields and faster bio-recycling in the sector.
The biotech business also stated that it has created a highly selective enzyme capable of depolymerising polyester in textile materials, which is claimed to be a difficult process owing to the complexity of textiles.