Carbios Inaugurates Textile Preparation Line to Accelerate Biorecycling in the Fashion Industry

Carbios, a leading biotech company specializing in the development of biological technologies for plastic and textile recycling, has unveiled its new textile preparation line at its demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Roland Lescure, the French Minister for Industry, along with representatives from Carbios’ partner brands, including On, Salomon, and Puma.

The textile preparation line is a significant milestone in Carbios’ mission to revolutionize the life cycle of plastic and textiles. By automating the textile preparation phase, Carbios aims to streamline the recycling process and transform textile waste from used garments or cutting scraps into raw material suitable for depolymerization. This innovative enzymatic biorecycling process allows for closed-loop “fiber to fiber” recycling, meeting the growing demand for sustainable practices in the fashion industry.

The fully integrated and automated line developed by Carbios includes shredding and extraction stages to remove hard points like buttons or fasteners. This scalable development tool will enable Carbios to validate its biorecycling technology for textiles at a demonstration plant scale by 2024. Additionally, the expertise gained from working with collection and sorting operators will assist brands in eco-designing their products and specifying the quality of textiles needed for enzymatic recycling.

The textile industry faces significant challenges in recycling due to limited collection and sorting infrastructure, resulting in a low recycling rate of only 13% globally. Carbios’ enzymatic recycling process offers a solution to this problem by selectively depolymerizing polyester (PET) present in textile materials. With the installation of the textile preparation line, Carbios aims to accelerate the development of biorecycling in the textile industry and contribute to the establishment of a circular economy for textiles.

French Minister of Industry, Roland Lescure, emphasized the importance of textile recycling and praised Carbios for its innovative and collaborative approach in addressing this critical issue. He highlighted that Carbios’ technology is a cutting-edge, made-in-France solution that will contribute to the creation of a French recycling industry.

Emmanuel Ladent, CEO of Carbios, expressed his gratitude to the French Government for its support in industrializing and internationalizing the company’s technology. He emphasized that textile preparation is a vital step for recycling and achieving textile circularity. The output from Carbios’ new preparation line seamlessly integrates into their biorecycling process, meeting the demands of their brand partners for closed-loop recycling.

Carbios’ textile preparation line marks a significant advancement in the biorecycling of textiles, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the fashion industry. With the European Union mandating separate collection of textile waste from 2025, Carbios’ innovative technology aligns perfectly with the EU’s goals of reducing textile waste and promoting the use of recycled fibers in textiles.

As Carbios continues to collaborate with renowned brands and expand its consortium partnerships, the company is poised to play a pivotal role in transforming the fashion industry’s approach to sustainability and circularity.