Plans to build what is claimed will be the first-of-a-kind manufacturing plant for bio-recycled PET in France have been unveiled.

Carbios and Indorama Ventures have teamed up for the plant, which will use the former company’s PET bio-recycling technology at the latter firm’s PET production site.

The companies aim to build and operate the “world’s first” industrial-scale enzymatic PET bio-recycling plant with a processing capacity of around 50,000 tons of post-consumer PET waste per year.

That’s equivalent to two billion PET bottles or 2.5 billion PET trays.

The plan for an industrial-scale facility follows the successful start-up of a demonstration plant by Carbios.

Its technology converts PET – which is the dominant polymer in bottles, trays and textiles made of polyester – into its core monomers, which can then be used to manufacture 100% recycled and recyclable PET.

Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery said: “We are very pleased that Carbios and Indorama Ventures have chosen France to build their first 100% bio-recycled PET manufacturing plant. From cutting-edge science, Carbios has developed a disruptive technology and process that enables efficient transformation of plastic waste into novel valuable products.

“This breakthrough project showcases the government’s ambition within France 2030: getting ready for the challenges of the next decade. Combining biotechnology and a renewed industrial ambition will be key to achieve a more circular economy.”