The facility uses several production modules, from the extrusion of plastic materials to their transformation into flexible film, and the characterization of all properties of the materials produced.
First industrial & commercial demonstrations coming soon
Its biodegradation technology can be used for applications including; plastic films, mulching films for agriculture, and plastic bags at the pre-industrial stage.
Jean-Claude Lumaret, CEO, Carbios, said it foresees initiating the first industrial and commercial demonstrations soon.
“After the announcement in July 2014 of the successes we obtained with the first self-destructible plastic films that included Carbios’ enzyme-based technology, the next step was to develop formulations for these plastic materials based on the specific properties required by each application,” he said.
“Having a plastic production platform at our headquarters enables us to quickly take these first applications to the industrial and commercial stage, and to strengthen our intellectual property with the patents developed for each new approved application.
A new milestone in Carbios’ development
The facility marks a new milestone in Carbios’ development, and brings to completion a pre-pilot development plant for the production of enzymes (established in 2014), and collaboration with CRITT Bio-Industries (Regional Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer) in Toulouse in 2015 for producing enzymes at a pilot scale of 300 liters.
These investments have been made with funds raised during Carbios’ IPO of December 2013.
Lumaret added the plant strengthens Carbios’ industrial credibility with its current and future partners and it has the tools and skills to make its technology an industrial reality.
Carbios, founded in 2011, is a green chemistry company specializing in breakthrough technologies for the recovery of plastic waste and the production of bio-polymers.
It receives financial support from European venture capital firm Truffle Capital and is managed by the Holding Incubatrice Chimie Verte fund.
It was granted “Young Innovative Company” by Bpifrance (former OSEO) and is eligible for investments by private equity mutual funds (FCPIs).