Page 25 - Plastics News October 2021

CoMPANY NEwS

bp And Brightmark To Explore Next-Gen Carbios Opens Plastics

Plastics Renewal Plants In Europe Recycling Plant

rench firm Carbios that has taken
Fan enzyme found in decomposing
leaves and tweaked it, so it can
decompose plastic instead, has now
opened a demonstration plant where
they are showing their recycling process
can achieve the goals they predicted
18 months ago. Several obstacles have
prevented humanity from getting
control of the plastic pollution
problem. Mechanical recycling is
p, an international oil company using conventional mechanical processes expensive to run, while market demand
btransitioning into an integrated (types 3 – 7), such as plastic film, flexible for costly recycled plastic is low. Plastic
energy company, and Brightmark, a packaging, styrofoam, plastic beverage collection around the world is still
global waste solutions company with a cups, car seats and children’s toys. Each under 25%, and some plastic polyesters
mission to reimagine waste, have signed a prospective plastics renewal plant could remain without a recycling method.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) divert up to 400 000 tpy of waste plastic The technology from Carbios solves
to jointly evaluate opportunities for from disposal to create sustainable many of these problems, and they’re
development of the next generation of products and potentially create 100+ confident their demonstration plant
plastic waste renewal plants in Germany, full-time jobs supporting the circular will win the support of corporations
the Netherlands, and Belgium.The economy. “Bringing our plastics renewal like PepsiCo, L’Oreal, and Nestle. At
MOU brings together bp’s extensive solution to Europe is a key next step in the new Carbios plant in Clermont-
knowledge and trading experience in delivering on our mission to reimagine Ferrand, a reactor about the size of a
refining and petrochemical markets, waste and create a circular economy cargo van has the capacity to process
with Brightmark’s proprietary advanced globally,” said Bob Powell, Founder and
recycling technology. The companies Chief Executive Officer of Brightmark.
will evaluate opportunities for projects “bp has been a terrific partner with
that convert end-of-life waste plastics Brightmark and we’re looking forward
otherwise destined for incineration, to expanding on our combined
landfill, or export, into valuable initiatives to scale our environmentally
petrochemical feedstocks for plastics and economically sustainable circular
and other industrial applications. This solutions in Europe.” Carol Howle,
new MOU is a further development of Executive Vice President Trading and
the relationship between Brightmark and Shipping, bp said: “Promoting circularity
bp. bp is the offtaker for Brightmark’s and unlocking new sources of value are
landmark 100 000 tpy plastics renewal part of our sustainability frame. We are around 100,000 ground up plastic
plant in Ashley, Indiana, USA, excited to extend our work with the team bottles in just 10-16 hours that’s
which is currently undergoing final at Brightmark as we seek to develop around two tons of ground-up PET,
commissioning. In addition, Brightmark new sustainable products and supply the most common form of plastic
recently announced plans for the world’s chains. Their innovative technology bottle. It breaks down the polymers
largest plastics conversion plant in Macon, complements our refining and trading long complicated molecules, into
Georgia USA with a 400 000 tpy capacity. businesses while providing opportunities monomers separating the two major
Brightmark’s proprietary plastics renewal for a more sustainable future, enabling components of polyethylene glycol
process recycles plastic waste that has materials to be kept in use for longer.” from terephthalic acid, in a matter
reached the end of its useful life. This Brightmark and bp are closely aligned in of hours reduce the greenhouse gas
includes items not currently recyclable their approach to the circular economy. emissions by 30%.

24 PLASTICS NEWS OCTOBER 2021 25 PLASTICS NEWS OCTOBER 2021