ESG Global Update

Global ESG Updates

French scientists create enzyme that breaks down plastic bottles in hours

French chemistry company, Carbios, has created a mutant bacterial enzyme that can break down a plastic bottle in hours. Currently, plastics can only be recycled at the standard required for clothes and carpet, however, this new process reduces the bottles to ‘chemical building blocks’ that can be used to make new food-grade bottles. The enzyme was found in a pile of composting leaves. Carbios is looking at industrial-scale processing power within five years.