French startup uses plastic-chewing enzymes in 'closed-loop' recycling • FRANCE 24 English
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 เม.ย. 2024
- April 22 marks Earth Day and this year's theme is "Planet vs. Plastic". Over the last 60 years, around 7 billion tons of plastic have been produced, according to the UN. But only around 10 percent of it has been recycled. Initiatives are flourishing around the world to tackle the waste crisis, including new technology to improve recycling rates. French startup Carbios has developed an alternative method to mechanical recycling, using plastic-chewing enzymes to break down polyethylene (PET), one of the most common single-use plastics in the world. The Down to Earth team visited their demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand.
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Chemist here. It's NOT "polyethylene" that can be degraded by Carbios enzymes. It's "polyethylene terephthalate" (that's what PET is). That's a polyester. A polyester can be HYDROLYSED, polyethylene (as found in plastic bags) can NOT. The HYDROLYSIS of PET can be sped up by enzymes called ESTERASES as exploited by Carbios. On the other hand, finding enzymes (or microbes producing them) that can degrade plain polyethylene is an elusive task. While PET is a common plastic used for beverage bottles, plain polyethylene is FAR MORE COMMON, as it costs a fraction of PET to produce. As long as humanity looks at the bottom line, WITHOUT taking the environment into account, it'll continue to see microplastics dispersed in the entire biosphere, including in us.
A scientist explains it, and the news fails us again. Thanks
@@eewilson9835 Journalists are amazing at dramatizing smallest bits of hope in scentific literature. Add some context, the news gets dull.
can pyrolysis do both , and maybe some other variants in the same classes you can name ?
Plain polyethylene, often used in products like plastic bags, is a different polymer and typically resistant to degradation by enzymes. While efforts to find enzymes or microbes capable of degrading plain polyethylene are ongoing, it remains a challenging task.
Your point about the prevalence of plain polyethylene in single-use plastics and its impact on the environment is well taken. Addressing the environmental consequences of plastic pollution requires not only technological innovation but also changes in human behaviour and economic incentives to prioritize sustainability over short-term cost savings.
I worked at a recycling plant. The model used to be, crush it into a cube and send it to China. Now the model for a long time has been to crush it in a cube and cover it from the rain. I personally would love to fireproof the cube and build gigantic castles with them, but what do I know. Pretty neat we can enzyme the cubes now.
Please everyone appreciate that Carbios’ CEO’s name is Ladent, which means “The tooth” in French. For a company whose goal is to find a way to chew plastic, it’s quite fitting ! 😅
indeed pretty cute name
Big Oil is always looking for ways to keep its profits flowing. As a Canadian I am in the majority when we say we want oil production reduced, if not eliminated. (By the way, our mainstream media is not to be relied upon for telling Canadian news so whatever they are saying is likely not reality.) There are many alternative ways to create the products that have been taken over by the plastics industry including using farmed seaweed and other plant materials. I suggest checking out The Earthshot Prize to see more of these alternatives.
A group from McMaster University has a couple of plants in the States that use wax worms to convert waste plastic to hospital grade polypropylene glycol.
Hmmm, rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic...
💯💯💯
Don't pretend that this is the only company doing this. I have seen news stories over the last several years of other companies claiming to do the same thing with the same success.
Well, you should tell us who they are since you brought it up.
Change to glass and paper at least where it is possible
Yep. The 60s and 70s we all drank from glass bottles. It was perfectly fine
Have guys ever seen leaf plates in your country? Plates that are made by stitching together a bunch of dry leaves?
Glass, Much heavier and causes much more CO2 to transport, Significantly more. Paper is made from wood, where and how to grow and also cost more in CO2 pollution as well? People don’t just use plastic because we want to, there are huge benefits that everyone just glosses over and don’t address.
Not a solution to eliminating plastics. Recyling not a permanent solution to the crisis. Leaching of microplastics still occurs ending up in the environment as well as in humans, animals along with water bodies.
Aduro Clean Technologies is doing bit same of process, but looks to have a bigger range of plastics and possibilities
Wow iam surprised Governments are not taxing plastic bottles 😂
What a great report
This idea was the central theme of a sci-fi novel Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters. In it a mutated fast-spreading bacteria was able to eat plastic while emitting a flammable gas leading to a total collapse of society. Power systems failing, plastic water mains erupting and airliners falling from the sky as their plastic seals and electrical wire insulation dissolved, not the best written sci-fi novel but food for thought. Yes, these are enzymes not bacteria but if it could ever be weaponized then it could be dangerous ;?)
I hope this works!
I thought this was half of the brand new episode of "Down To Earth"!
Like the radioactive materials single use plastic should not be thrown in the environment.
They shouldn’t exist to begin with. Reuse something built to last, no more of this “single use” bs.
@magesalmanac6424 Radioactive materials are produced, but they are regulated. Similarly, single use plastics should be.
It all comes down to economics. If this costs more than making plastic from petroleum, it will never take off.
If you don't recycle it then what? There are other things going on. Using algea to produce a substitute for plastic. Also meal worms that can eat plastic.
Those worms in Japan are so cute, the ones that digest styrofoam
Thank you
Here’s a thought, what if just produced less plastic to begin with?!
Indian Scientists had already discovered & studied plastic eating bacteria. How is this different? 😅
Japan beat India, ha ha ha.
Unfortunately it's going to be cheaper to make new. The earth is drowning in plastic and now I see it in siding, floors, roofs, car bodies, etc. HELP!
What would happen if the enzyme is released into the environment? Have they spent any effort in studying how the enzyme interacts with the environment?
I hope they don’t chew up your mom’s medical equipment or the parts of an aircraft you’ll be riding in.
That is a fine achievement to cycle plastic several times. They should not be attacked for not fixing every problem. Reduction is better for the environment, but tell that to the world rather than attacking valid improvements.
I think governments need to eliminate the tax deductibility for money given to these "calling attention to..." non-profits. They are doing no good, just twisting the truth.
Nice!
Big Oil will buy the patent and shelve the product.
Great effort!
The math does not work???
Ever read the novel ILL WIND? Yes it's sci-fi but it gets the old brain working about the claims being made.
Zero Waste people need to understand that economics is an important factor.
The economy won’t count for jack when we’ve poisoned everything and ourselves.
If you want more corporations to use recycled plastic, then increase taxes on oil. Stop subsidizing companies that produce recycled materials because it is an ineffective way to encourage recycling.
Either nature adapts to this (which it kinda already does) or we'll eventually create nanobots, just to keep our body clean from microplastics.
no dangers here lol
👍
They Obviously dont watch meny sifi movies..this will not end well for us..
Watch the episode about "Recycling is a Scam". It is total propaganda by Big Oil.
Turns plastics into microplastics into nanoplastics and CO2 plus some recycled plastics?
Recycling is a myth
SCARRY ! Instead more recycling and using natural materials.
more bs and lies
So? They can do heaps of stuff in a lab. Make a recycling plant or its useless.
👀🧞 Finally french find something that suits french tech.