Carbios
Carbios is a French public biotech company that uses proprietary engineered enzymes to depolymerize complex PET plastics and textiles into virgin-quality monomers, licensing the technology globally and serving beverage, cosmetics, apparel, and tire brand customers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersClermont-ferrand, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Carbios does
Carbios is a French biotech company founded in 2011 (listed on Euronext Growth Paris as ALCRB since December 2013) that develops proprietary enzymatic depolymerization technology to recycle PET plastics and textiles. The platform uses engineered enzymes to break down complex PET waste — including colored, contaminated, and mixed materials that mechanical recycling cannot process — into virgin-quality monomers (r-PTA and r-MEG) with purity above 99.5% inside 24 hours, and is validated at Technology Readiness Level 8 via an industrial demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand operational since 2021. A second product line, CARBIOS Active, deploys enzymes enabling PLA plastics to fully biodegrade under home-composting conditions; it holds FDA Food Contact Substances listing and BPI certification. The technology is backed by peer-reviewed research including publications in Nature.
The business model blends direct materials sales with a capital-light global licensing strategy. Revenue is generated from (i) licensing royalties and technology transfer fees, with the Wankai JV in China being the first commercial license; (ii) sales of recycled PET monomers (r-PTA, r-MEG), resin, and fiber produced from the demonstration plant and forthcoming commercial facilities; and (iii) enzymatic solutions for PLA biodegradation. Pre-sales agreements with major beverage industry players already cover approximately 50% of the Longlaville plant's 50,000 tonnes/yr nameplate capacity. Long-term, Carbios targets 1 million tonnes/yr of Asian capacity through multiple licensing agreements, while pursuing letters of intent in Turkey (SASA) and the UK (FCC Environment). The go-to-market is sales-led enterprise field engagement with major brands supplemented by consortium demonstrations and industry conference presence.
Carbios serves enterprise customers across beverage packaging, cosmetics and personal care, apparel and footwear (fiber-to-fiber textile recycling), automotive and tires, and compostable packaging, with marquee relationships including L'OCCITANE, Biotherm, PUMA, Patagonia, On, Salomon, PVH Corp., Michelin, PepsiCo, and Nestlé Waters. Geographic footprint centers on France and broader Europe with European Commission-backed expansion, US market entry via FDA approval, and Greater China deployment through the Wankai/Kaibio JV (Haining plant targeted H1 2028). Backed by Indorama Ventures (€110M equity/loan facility for Longlaville) and €42.5M of EU/France 2030 state aid, the company employs ~140 staff post-restructuring, is B Corp certified (2026), and is led by CEO Benoît Grenot following the June 2026 succession from Vincent Kamel.
Carbios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carbios
- Legal name
- CARBIOS
- Website
- https://carbios.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Carbios is a French public biotech company that uses proprietary engineered enzymes to depolymerize complex PET plastics and textiles into virgin-quality monomers, licensing the technology globally and serving beverage, cosmetics, apparel, and tire brand customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carbios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enzymatic PET Biorecycling
- NAICS
- Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)
- SIC
- Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMAEAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMANANAA), Bio-based Polymers & Bioplastics (e.g., PLA, PHA, bio-PE/PP/PET, PBS) (EUAAAIAC), Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB)
Keywords
Where Carbios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clermont-ferrand
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Carbios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Licensing Revenue: Carbios licenses its enzymatic PET recycling technology to partners globally,收取许可费用和技术使用费。The China JV with Wankai represents the first commercial license, with long-term target of 1 million tonnes capacity across Asia through multiple licensing agreements
- Recycled PET Materials Sales: Sale of recycled PET monomers (r-PTA, r-MEG) and finished materials (resin, fiber) produced from demonstration plant and future commercial facilities. Pre-sales agreements cover ~50% of Longlaville capacity
- Enzyme Solutions (CARBIOS Active): Sale of enzymatic solutions for PLA biodegradation to manufacturers of compostable packaging and products
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Carbios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carbios develops and commercializes proprietary enzymatic biorecycling technology that depolymerizes complex PET plastic and textile waste into virgin-quality monomers (r-PTA and r-MEG), which are then used to produce Resin for packaging and Fiber for textiles. The company also offers CARBIOS Active, an enzymatic solution for full home-compost biodegradation of PLA plastics, and monetizes its technology through direct material sales, multi-year supply agreements, and global technology licensing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CARBIOS Active: Enzymatic solution for PLA biodegradation, enabling PLA plastics to fully biodegrade in home composting or methanization conditions within 6 months. Certified by FDA (food contact) and BPI. Targeted at packaging manufacturers for food-contact PLA applications.
Products and services
- PET Biorecycling Technology Proprietary enzymatic process that depolymerizes complex PET waste — including colored, contaminated, mixed, and textile-fiber materials that mechanical recycling cannot handle — into virgin-quality r-PTA and r-MEG monomers with over 99.5% purity within 24 hours. Licensed and operated by Carbios for brand owners and industrial partners globally.
- CARBIOS Active (PLA Biodegradation Technology)
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to virgin PET production
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Carbios
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Carbios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Carbios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wankai New Materials (Zhink Group)coreJoint venture Kaibio Biotechnology Co. Ltd established to build and operate China's first PET biorecycling plant in Haining, Zhejiang. Wankai holds majority stake, financing most of €115 million investment. Carbios retains full patent ownership under licensing agreement. Plant capacity: 50,000 tonnes/year, operations targeted H1 2028.
- Indorama VenturescoreJoint venture for Longlaville plant construction in France. Indorama providing approximately €110 million in equity and non-convertible loan financing. Project-operating company: Carbios 54. Plant capacity: 50,000 tonnes/year, total investment €230 million.
- Landbell GroupminorSupply agreement for Longlaville plant: 15,000 tonnes/year of post-consumer PET waste from Germany starting 2026.
- HündgenminorSupply agreement for preparation and recycling of 15,000 tonnes/year of post-consumer PET waste from Germany starting end of 2026.
- TOMRA TextilesminorCollaboration for collection, sorting, and preparation of textile waste in Northern Europe to supply Longlaville plant.
- Nouvelles Fibres TextilesminorPartnership to develop French industrial textile recycling sector for polyester textiles, supplying Longlaville plant.
- SelenisminorStrategic partnership for production of PETG from Carbios biorecycling technology for cosmetics and healthcare markets in Europe and US.
- SLEEVERminorCo-development partnership for home compost biodegradable shrink sleeves using CARBIOS Active enzyme solution. Launched SEELCAP ONEGO first home compost biodegradable tamper-evident seal.
- De Smet Engineers & ContractorsminorConstruction management and detailed engineering for Longlaville plant, including procurement assistance and partner management.
- Zhink GroupcoreLetter of intent for technology license enabling construction and operation of PET biorecycling plant in China with minimum 50,000 tonnes/year capacity. Partnership evolved into definitive Wankai agreement.
- SASAminorLetter of intent for technology license for 100,000 tonnes/year plant in Adana, Turkey, targeting European market.
- FCC Environment UKminorLetter of intent for licensed PET biorecycling plant in UK, confirming interest from waste management sector.
- OncoreConsortium partner demonstrating biorecycled polyester integration in high-performance running shoes without compromising quality or design.
- PatagoniacoreConsortium partner for fiber-to-fiber textile biorecycling technology demonstrations.
- PUMAcoreConsortium partner; produced world's first 100% biorecycled T-shirt; integrating biorecycled polyester in footwear.
- PVH Corp.coreConsortium partner for fiber-to-fiber textile biorecycling demonstrations.
- SalomoncoreConsortium partner for fiber-to-fiber textile biorecycling; joint award recipient with FENC for ITMF International Cooperation Award.
- L'OCCITANE en ProvencecoreLaunched first commercial bottle in 100% enzymatically recycled PET for shower gel range, developed with Pinard Beauty Pack transformer.
- Nestlé WatersminorBrand partner collaborating on sustainable packaging with Carbios enzymatic recycling technology.
- PepsiCominorBrand partner collaborating on sustainable packaging solutions using Carbios biorecycling technology.
- Far Eastern New Century (FENC)minorAward-winning joint development of polyester biorecycled products with Carbios and Salomon, recipient of ITMF International Cooperation Award.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Carbios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Novamont: Italian bioplastics producer (Mater-Bi starch-based bioplastics) acquired by Versalis (Eni). Competes with Carbios in the bio-based and compostable plastics space, particularly for food packaging, bags, and agricultural film applications across Europe.
- NatureWorks: NatureWorks manufactures PLA (Ingeo biopolymer) at scale, the same polymer that Carbios's CARBIOS Active enzyme is designed to biodegrade. As the dominant PLA supplier, NatureWorks is both a potential commercial partner for Carbios Active and a competitor in the broader bioplastics value chain.
- Loop Industries: Loop Industries uses a proprietary depolymerization process to break down PET and polyester waste into virgin-quality monomers (MEG and PTA) and reform into PET resin. Direct competitor in enzymatic/catalytic PET depolymerization targeting the same beverage and apparel customers as Carbios.
- TotalEnergies Corbion: Joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion producing Luminy PLA bioplastics from sugarcane. A direct peer in the bio-based and biodegradable polymer space, with established industrial-scale PLA production that competes with Carbios's PET biorecycling franchise for the same sustainability-driven brand customers.
- Indorama Ventures: World's largest PET producer and a JV partner with Carbios for the Longlaville plant. Operates extensive mechanical and chemical recycling infrastructure for PET; competes and partners with Carbios in advanced PET recycling for beverage and packaging markets.
- Ioniqa Technologies: Ioniqa developed a proprietary process for depolymerizing PET waste into high-purity monomers using a catalyst-based approach. Acquired by Unilever, the technology competes head-to-head with Carbios in converting colored and contaminated PET into virgin-grade building blocks for food-contact and textile applications.
Emerging players
- Danimer Scientific: Danimer Scientific produces Nodax PHA, a bio-based and biodegradable polymer used in compostable packaging and single-use applications. Competes with Carbios's CARBIOS Active enzyme solution in the compostable plastics end market, particularly for food service and packaging applications.
- Samsara Eco: Australian enzymatic recycling startup using engineered enzymes to break down PET and polyester into monomers. Direct technology overlap with Carbios's enzymatic depolymerization, but earlier stage with a smaller commercial footprint and limited brand consortium.
- Protein Evolution Inc. US-based startup using AI-engineered enzymes to recycle PET and polyester waste. Closest technology peer to Carbios's enzymatic depolymerization approach but at earlier commercialization stage; represents a potential future direct competitor in licensing-based enzymatic recycling.
Broad incumbents
- Eastman Chemical Company: Eastman operates polyester renewal technology (PRT), a methanolysis-based chemical recycling process that depolymerizes PET into monomers (DMT) for repolymerization. Significantly larger chemicals incumbent with multiple product lines including specialty plastics, fibers, and additives, positioning it as a broad chemical-recycling peer to Carbios's enzymatic process.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carbios social profiles
Digital presenceCarbios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carbios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Carbios subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Carbios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carbios M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carbios
What does Carbios do?
Carbios develops and commercializes proprietary enzymatic biorecycling technology that depolymerizes complex PET plastic and textile waste into virgin-quality monomers (r-PTA and r-MEG), which are then used to produce Resin for packaging and Fiber for textiles. The company also offers CARBIOS Active, an enzymatic solution for full home-compost biodegradation of PLA plastics, and monetizes its technology through direct material sales, multi-year supply agreements, and global technology licensing.
Is Carbios a public or private company?
Carbios is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Carbios founded?
Carbios was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Carbios based?
Carbios is headquartered in Clermont-ferrand, France, in the Europe region.
How does Carbios make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Licensing Revenue is the primary driver. The others are recycled PET Materials Sales and enzyme Solutions (CARBIOS Active).
Who are Carbios's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Novamont, NatureWorks, Loop Industries, TotalEnergies Corbion, Indorama Ventures and Ioniqa Technologies. Emerging players are Danimer Scientific, Samsara Eco and Protein Evolution Inc.. Eastman Chemical Company is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Carbios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carbios.
What industry is Carbios in?
Carbios's product category is Enzymatic PET Biorecycling. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAOAA, Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT), with a secondary code of IMANANAA, Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT). Its NAICS code is 325211 and its SIC code is 2820.