This enzyme recycles plastic bottles in a few hours

91% of plastic waste in the world is not recycled. One part ends up fattening landfills
or dotting streets and fields, another ends up in the oceans. With the exception of
Norway, which recycles 97% of its plastic bottles, most countries poorly address this
problem. Obviously, fast recycling processes would make things easier.This is what
the Carbios company has been looking for. And he found it thanks to an enzyme
discovered eight years ago. With some modifications, this enzyme achieves rapid
recycling of plastic bottles. In just a few hours it is possible to have the basic
compounds that make up these containers.The method has the advantage of its
speed, but also that the plastic it processes is of high quality. In research published
in the journal Nature, the company noted that the discovery dates back to a pile of
compost leaves. There was the enzyme that has been selected as the most suitable
for reducing plastic bottles.It was an enzyme that had been completely forgotten, but
when examining it - among 100,000 other candidate microorganisms that have been
studied - scientists were amazed at its properties. With a mutation, the enzyme has
been able to deliver stunning results. The Carbios team has managed to degrade a
ton of plastic bottles by 90%.Plastic recyclingHigh quality plasticCurrently there are
methods to recover PET plastic from bottles. The downside is that the quality of this
plastic is low, so it is only used on clothing or carpets. In addition, it is sold very
expensive, since there is a shortage of supply. This occurs because there are no
quick recycling systems, which slows down the process, and no cheap formulas.The
Carbios method aims to improve the situation. The company indicates that the cost
of the enzyme is only 4% of the cost of virgin plastic, which comes from oil. Its
recycled material would also be used for new packaging. In fact, the company has
agreements with Pepsi and L'Oreal to accelerate the development of its
technology.The use of plastic has been one of the workhorses of recent years in
sustainability. Its use as a construction element has even been explored. Although
one of the most promising formulas for its reuse is its use as a material for 3D
printing.