Chemical Recycling: A New Solution for Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is a global problem, with over 400 million tons of new plastic being produced each year. Traditional recycling methods are limited and often ineffective. However, scientists have developed a new approach called chemical recycling. This process uses enzymes to break down plastics into their basic building blocks, allowing them to be reassembled into new plastic. An enzyme called LCC has shown promise in breaking down PET, the plastic used in bottles. Carbios, a startup in France, has successfully evolved and improved this enzyme, making it highly efficient. Their demonstration factory can now recycle polyester-rich clothes, which are traditionally difficult to recycle. While the cost of recycled plastic is currently higher than new plastic, experts anticipate it will decrease as the technology reaches industrial scale. Chemical recycling has the potential to reduce plastic pollution and make plastic a valuable commodity.