French biotech firm expands into industrial fabrics market through enzymatic PET recycling technology

French biotechnology company CARBIOS has signed a multi-year commercial agreement with Thailand's Indorama Ventures to supply recycled materials for tyre manufacturing, marking the firm's expansion into the industrial fabrics sector.

Under the deal, CARBIOS will provide biorecycled monomers from its planned Longlaville industrial plant to Indorama Ventures, the world's largest polyester producer. The Thai company will transform these materials into recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) filaments for use in tyre reinforcement by French tyre manufacturer Michelin.

The partnership represents CARBIOS's entry into a new market segment beyond its existing focus on cosmetic packaging applications. The company uses proprietary enzymatic recycling technology to break down complex PET waste into high-quality recycled materials.

"This commercial agreement with Indorama Ventures marks a new step in the realisation of our industrial project," said Vincent Kamel, chief executive of CARBIOS. "It confirms the trust of Indorama Ventures and Michelin in our PET biorecycling technology."

The deal comes weeks after CARBIOS signed its first sales contracts for biorecycled PET with two unnamed global cosmetics companies, as the firm builds momentum ahead of the commercial launch of its Longlaville facility.

Michelin, which has committed to using 100 percent renewable and recycled materials by 2050, said the partnership advances its circular economy objectives.

"This partnership is a tangible expression of our commitment to turning complex waste into high-performance materials," said Fabien Gaboriaud, director of circularity and renewable & recycled materials at Michelin Group. "By integrating enzymatically recycled r-PET into our tyres, we are marking a new milestone on our journey toward achieving 100 percent renewable and recycled materials by 2050."

Indorama Ventures, which generated $15.4 billion in revenue last year, said the alliance underscores its commitment to circular economy principles. The company employs approximately 25,000 people across manufacturing operations in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.

"This alliance with both, CARBIOS and Michelin, underlines our commitment to plan ahead and take a leading role in shifting the industry towards circularity," said Renato Boaventura, global market head mobility at Indorama Ventures.

CARBIOS, founded in 2011, has developed enzyme-based biological processes to break down plastics as part of efforts to prevent plastic pollution and accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The company operates an industrial demonstration plant for biorecycling that has been operational since 2021.

Construction of what the company describes as the world's first biorecycling plant is expected to resume in the second half of 2025, subject to securing additional funding.

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According to a recent analysis by the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), an inter-governmental organisation composed of rubber producing and consuming stakeholders located in Singapore, India's rubber industry demonstrated robust performance in the first half of 2025. The sector saw demand for both natural and synthetic rubber continue to outpace supply. Natural rubber consumption grew by 2.1 percent against a 1.9 percent production increase. The synthetic rubber market expanded even more rapidly, with consumption rising 5.6 percent and production increasing 5.4 percent.

The automotive tyre industry remains the primary market force, consuming 62.8 percent of all natural rubber and 68.9 percent of synthetic rubber. This sustained demand from tyre manufacturers occurred alongside mixed vehicle sales figures. While passenger car sales experienced a slight decline of 0.1 percent, this was counterbalanced by healthy growth in the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments, which increased by 0.9 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for September 2025, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

The ANRPC Statistics and Information Committee (ISC) presented an updated perspective on the global supply-demand landscape for 2025 and examined updated 2024 statistics and growth rates during the October 2025 Annual Assembly Sessions. September saw price volatility and pressure as output increased while demand stayed low. However, tapping activities were limited in several producing regions due to rains and labour limitations, which contributed to a passive production rise that was not anticipated during the peak production season.

Global natural rubber (NR) output is expected to increase slightly by 1.3 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, according to recent reports from ANRPC member nations, after Indonesia's production base was revised downward. Concurrently, it is anticipated that NR demand would increase by 0.8 percent in 2025 due to an increase in Indonesia's consumer base. Although there were some indications of recovery in the tyre sector in a few countries, market mood remained divided.

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ARLANXEO, a leading global producer of synthetic rubber, is significantly increasing its synthetic rubber production capabilities at its Brazilian facility in Triunfo. This strategic investment is designed to boost the plant's annual capacity by nearly one-quarter, a direct response to growing customer demand across Latin America and other international markets.

The initiative underscores the company's dedication to the region through a 'local-to-local' strategy, which aims to foster regional economic growth and sustainability. By enhancing local production, the company ensures a more balanced and secure global supply network. The expansion is scheduled to be operational in 2027, promising a more efficient and reliable supply chain for clients. The Triunfo plant is already recognised for its operational excellence and adherence to rigorous international quality and safety standards, a reputation this new project will further solidify.

Angelo Brazil, Chief Manufacturing Officer, ARLANXEO, said, “After a successful installation that increased capacity to 65kt at our polybutadiene plant, the response from our customers has been outstanding. We are now taking the next step and will further expand our capacity by 25 percent. This underscores our confidence in the Latin American market, and our commitment to providing reliable, high-quality products close to our customers. With strong performance, a well-run operation and a market with solid customer demand, we’re perfectly positioned for continued growth.”

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In a significant advancement for materials science, Shin-Etsu Chemical has pioneered a new class of thermoplastic silicone, effectively overcoming the longstanding recyclability challenges associated with conventional silicone rubber. This innovation is a core component of the company's Silicones Solution-Engineering initiative, which leverages sophisticated silicon chemistry. Traditional materials are broadly categorised as thermoplastics, which can be remelted and recycled, and thermosetting plastics, which undergo a permanent hardening process that prevents recycling. Standard silicone rubber falls into the latter, thermosetting category.

This newly engineered thermoplastic silicone, however, represents a paradigm shift. It retains the desirable soft texture of silicone but introduces a suite of previously unattainable properties. The material is not only fully recyclable due to its thermoplastic nature but also achieves a unique combination of high hardness and exceptional elasticity. Furthermore, its composition allows for excellent transparency and ease of colouring, as it requires no inorganic fillers like silica. From a manufacturing perspective, it offers excellent processability, suitable for standard plastic injection moulding and even formulation into solvent-based coatings for diverse applications.

The potential uses for this material are extensive and novel. It is expected to enable new applications in consumer electronics, such as soft-touch components for mobile devices and sports equipment, and in the medical field for protective coatings on caregiving devices. By offering a spectrum of properties from rubber-like elasticity to plastic-like rigidity, Shin-Etsu can provide highly customised solutions. The product is scheduled for its first public reference display at the 14th PLASTIC JAPAN exhibition, taking place at Makuhari Messe from 12 to 14 November 2025.

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