CARBIOS and FENC’s prototype T-shirts prove polyester biorecycling’s full compatibility with existing production lines and processes

• FENC and CARBIOS, both committed to sustainability and innovation, collaborate to demonstrate that complex PET waste can now be recycled into high-quality polyester fibers in real-world industrial conditions and repurposed into high-quality products
• The high purity of CARBIOS monomers enabled straightforward “plug & play” within the supply and transformation chain to offer identical performance and aesthetic appeal to virgin polyester

 

Clermont-Ferrand (France), Taipei (Taiwan), 17 April 2025 (8.30am CET). CARBIOS, (Euronext Growth Paris : ALCRB), a pioneer in the development and industrialization of biological technologies to reinvent the life cycle of plastic and textiles, and Far Eastern New Century (FENC, TWSE:1402), a global leader in the PET/polyester industry headquartered in Taiwan and serving global brands with virgin, recycled and bio-PET/polyester products, joined forces to create T-shirts that showcase the processability of CARBIOS’ PET biorecycling technology on FENC’s existing production lines. This proof of concept demonstrates that complex PET waste can now be recycled into high-quality polyester fibers in real-world industrial conditions and repurposed into high-quality products offering a scalable, "plug-and-play" solution for converting non-recyclable waste into high-end textiles, paving the way for a more sustainable textile industry.

 

CARBIOS’ polyester biorecycling is “plug & play” with existing production lines

This achievement relies on CARBIOS’ cutting-edge polyester enzymatic biorecycling technology and FENC’s operational excellence in textile production, which transformed CARBIOS biorecycled monomers, PTA and MEG , into rPET resins, fibers, fabrics and garments. The high purity of CARBIOS monomers enabled their seamless integration as a drop-in solution into FENC's existing production lines and processes, thereby demonstrating the industrial readiness of CARBIOS’ biorecycling technology.

With its vertically integrated expertise, FENC ensured every step of the process upheld industry standards without loss of quality

With FENC’s multi-year experience, expertise, and extensive presence in PET production, polyester textile conversion, and recycled PET/polyester manufacturing, FENC repolymerized CARBIOS’ biorecycled monomers to make fibers, spun into yarns, knitted into fabric, followed by a dyeing process. The resulting polymers, fibers, filaments and dyed fabrics made in FENC’s integrated facilities match the quality and performance of virgin petro-sourced polyester. By partnering with FENC, a global leader in performance textiles, the T-shirts demonstrate that CARBIOS’ biotechnology seamlessly integrates in all stakeholder processes without compromising the quality of the fiber or the end product.

 

FENC & CARBIOS join forces to bring sustainable textile solutions to brand owners

Thanks to these premium-quality polyester fibers, equivalent to virgin fibers in fit, comfort, durability, and color, Salomon, the modern mountain sports lifestyle brand, recently incorporated biorecycled polyester in the re-design of its XT_PURE footwear item to make it fully recyclable. In this three-party collaboration, CARBIOS and FENC provided Salomon with premium-quality fiber made from 100% biorecycled PET from the same batch used for the T-shirts. Salomon’s XT_PURE footwear was displayed at Paris Fashion Week in January 2025 and, along with the prototype T-shirts, illustrate a major step in the adoption of more circular practises within the textile industry. (link to Salomon LI post)

Fanny Liao, EVP, FENC: “FENC is exploring the biorecycling solution for PET/polyester through our collaboration with CARBIOS after working on mechanical, physical and chemical recycling of PET/polyester for 36 years. The high-purity recycled raw material is always the key element to drop into our existing industrial lines for making recycled PET/polyester products. This work with CARBIOS enables to produce high-quality products and together demonstrates our promises to the circular economy of textile industry.”

Vincent Kamel, CEO, CARBIOS: “CARBIOS is proud to collaborate with FENC, a global leader in polyester production, to bring innovative and sustainable solutions to the textile industry. Validated across the entire value chain on FENC’s existing production lines and processes, CARBIOS’ biorecycling technology demonstrates true industrial readiness—meeting the textile industry’s pressing demand for recycling solutions."

 

About Far Eastern New Century (FENC)

Founded in 1949 as the parent company of the conglomerate Far Eastern Group, FENC is an international company, based in Taiwan, operating in the USA, Japan, Mainland China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and sales to the name brands around the world. FENC is the only PET/polyester supplier in the world vertically integrated to offer a product spectrum spanning from raw materials to consumer end products such as garments. The company's 2024 consolidated revenues reached USD$8.3 billion with USD$22 billion in total assets.

To learn more about FENC please visit http://www.fenc.com

 

About CARBIOS:

CARBIOS is a biotech company developing and industrializing biological solutions to reinvent the life cycle of plastic and textiles. Inspired by nature, CARBIOS develops enzyme-based processes to break down plastic with a mission to avoid plastic and textile pollution and accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Its two disruptive technologies for the biorecycling of PET and the biodegradation of PLA are reaching industrial and commercial scale. Its biorecycling demonstration plant has been operational since 2021 and construction work of the world’s first industrial biorecycling plant is expected to restart between June and September 2025, subject to the necessary additional funding. CARBIOS, founded by Truffle Capital, has received scientific recognition, notably with the cover of Nature and a second article published by Nature, and is supported by prestigious brands in the cosmetics, Food & Beverage and apparel industries to enhance their products’ recyclability and circularity. Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe are members of a packaging consortium founded by CARBIOS and L’Oréal. On, Patagonia, PUMA, PVH Corp. and Salomon collaborate with CARBIOS in a textile consortium.

Visit www.CARBIOS.com/en to find out more about biotechnology powering plastic and textile circularity.

LinkedIn: CARBIOS / Instagram: insideCARBIOS

Information on CARBIOS shares:

ISIN Code FR0011648716

Ticker Code Euronext Growth: ALCRB

LEI: 969500M2RCIWO4NO5F08

CARBIOS, founded in 2011 by Truffle Capital, is eligible for the PEA-PME, a government program allowing French residents investing in SMEs to benefit from income tax rebates.

 

Disclaimer on forward-looking statements and risk factors:

This press release contains forward-looking statements, not historical data, and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts and data stated will occur. These forward-looking statements are based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by CARBIOS. CARBIOS operates in a competitive and rapidly evolving environment. It is therefore not in a position to anticipate all risks, uncertainties or other factors that may affect its business, their potential impact on its business or the extent to which the materialization of a risk or combination of risks could lead to results that differ significantly from those mentioned in any forward-looking statement. CARBIOS draws your attention to the fact that forward-looking statements are in no way a guarantee of its future performance and that its actual financial position, results, cash flows, its partnerships and corporate agreements, and the development of the sector in which CARBIOS operates may differ significantly from those proposed or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this document. In addition, even if CARBIOS’ financial position, results, cash flows, its partnerships and corporate agreements, and developments in the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking information contained in this document, such results or developments may not be a reliable indication of CARBIOS’ future results or developments. Readers are also advised to carefully consider the risk factors described in the Universal registration document filed with the French Market Authority (“AMF”), as well as in the half-year financial report available free of charge on the Company’s website. Should all or any part of these risk factors occur or others, in no case whatsoever will CARBIOS be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or for any related damages. This information is given only as of the date of this press release. CARBIOS makes no commitment to publish updates to this information or on the assumptions on which it is based, except in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation applicable to it.

 

For additional information, please contact:

FENC Fanny Liao　Executive Vice President　fannyliao@feg.com.tw

CARBIOS Melissa Flauraud　Press Relations　melissa.flauraud@carbios.com　+33 (0)6 30 26 50 04