CARBIOS and Wankai partner to deploy enzymatic PET recycling in Asia, starting with a 50,000-tonne Chinese plant launching in 2026.
CARBIOS, a pioneer in biorecycling technologies, has entered into a strategic agreement with Wankai New Materials, a subsidiary of the Zhink Group, to advance the large-scale deployment of CARBIOS’ PET enzymatic recycling technology across Asia. The Collaboration will begin with the construction of a PET biorecycling facility in China, marking a crucial milestone in the global expansion of CARBIOS’ sustainable recycling initiatives.
This development follows the Letter of Intent signed on June 24, 2024, between CARBIOS and Wankai New Materials, a publicly listed company under the Zhink Group—China’s third-largest PET producer and the fourth largest worldwide. Under the newly signed agreement, the two companies have defined the core principles of their collaboration, aiming to bring CARBIOS’ innovative PET biorecycling technology to the Asian market on an industrial scale.
The long-term partnership envisions the creation and operation of multiple PET biorecycling plants across Asia, with a collective target capacity of one million tonnes per year. As part of this initiative, CARBIOS will provide the joint ventures formed under this agreement with an exclusive license to utilize its enzymatic PET recycling technology throughout the region.
The collaboration’s first phase focuses on establishing a joint venture dedicated to constructing and operating an initial PET biorecycling plant in China. This facility will be capable of processing 50,000 tonnes of PET waste annually and will produce purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) monomers through CARBIOS’ proprietary process. The financing for this joint venture will be primarily managed by Wankai New Materials, which will serve as the principal shareholder. Construction of the first plant is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2026.
Furthermore, Wankai New Materials has committed to investing €5 million in CARBIOS S.A., a move that will further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two organizations and accelerate their shared vision of sustainable PET recycling.
The proposed partnership, including the establishment of the first facility and Wankai’s investment in CARBIOS, is contingent upon the finalization and signing of definitive agreements, including the shareholders’ and license agreements, which are expected to be concluded by the end of 2025.
This collaboration represents a landmark achievement for CARBIOS, marking its first technology license and validating its commercial business model. Given China’s leadership as the world’s largest producer of PET, this agreement positions both companies at the forefront of circular economy development in the region.
Vincent Kamel, CEO of CARBIOS, emphasized, “This agreement marks a pivotal step in our international expansion and licensing strategy. Partnering with Wankai, a leading PET producer, will help us accelerate the transition toward a circular and low-carbon PET industry.”
