Carbios’s technology can break down plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid into their original monomers. Unlike traditional recycling, the process allows plastics to be recycled repeatedly and is run at low temperatures. Enzymes added to the plastic also ensure the plastic is biodegradable should it end up among the 8 million metric tons of plastic that ends up in the oceans annually.
The agreement covers five years, and L’Oréal and Carbios say they welcome companies from other sectors to join the new consortium. Partners will have first access to Carbios’s technology once commercialized. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to protect the environment, and this consortium will also help boost the circular economy,” says Philippe Thuvien, packaging and development vice president at L’Oréal.