Partnership Converts Waste PET Into PETG for Cosmetic and Healthcare Packaging

French biotech company Carbios has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Selenis to develop PETG made from PET waste for the cosmetic and healthcare packaging markets. The partnership follows a two-year collaboration between Carbios, dedicated to the development and industrialization of biological technologies to, in its words, “reinvent the life cycle of plastic and textiles,” and Selenis, a global supplier of specialty co-polyesters headquartered in Portugal with facilities in Italy and Fayetteville, NC.

PTA monomer from Carbios' PET recycling process. Image courtesy of Carbios.

Founded in 2011, Carbios has developed enzyme-based processes to break down plastics. Its technology is used to de-polymerize PET waste into PTA and MEG monomers, which are then converted into PETG via Selenis’ advanced polymerization processes. The purity of the monomers results in PETG that reportedly has properties identical to virgin PETG, enabling the production of thick molded pots and lids that are aesthetically pleasing and offer product protection. In medical and pharmaceutical applications, PETG ensures packaging performance, sterility, transparency, and optical brightness, making the material suitable for complex medical device and diagnostics packaging and blister packs.

“The material’s value, therefore, is further underscored by combining a sustainable recycling solution whilst guaranteeing all needed properties, aligning with consumer sustainability demands and stringent regulatory requirements,” said Carbios in the press release. 

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“The partnership will open new markets for Carbios, notably the healthcare sector, as we continue our worldwide commercial deployment,” commented Carbios CEO Emmanuel Ladent.

Carbios has been operating a biorecycling demonstration plant since 2021 and is currently building its first industrial plant in partnership with Indorama Ventures. The new facility is expected to start operating next year, processing up to 50,000 tons of post-consumer PET waste annually. That will include materials that are not mechanically recyclable — the equivalent of 2 billion colored PET bottles or 2.5 billion PET trays, said Carbios when it made the announcement in 2023.