{"id":7667,"date":"2025-06-13T05:59:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T09:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=7667"},"modified":"2025-06-13T05:59:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T09:59:22","slug":"ai-startup-birch-licenses-nrel-technology-for-enzymatic-plastic-recycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=7667","title":{"rendered":"AI startup Birch licenses NREL technology for enzymatic plastic recycling"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The move aims to address the limitations of mechanical and chemical recycling. Credit: photka\/Shutterstock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Birch Biosciences has entered into a global patent licensing agreement with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the US Department of Energy to advance enzymatic plastic recycling processes.<\/p>\n

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This collaboration seeks to commercialise a technology for enzymatic deconstruction that effectively dismantles polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a prevalent plastic found in packaging and textiles.<\/p>\n

Birch Biosciences co-founder and CEO Dr Johan Kers said: \u201cThis licensing agreement represents a significant step forward in our mission to enable a circular plastic economy using biological solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cNREL\u2019s process complements our enzymatic recycling platform perfectly and will help us achieve scalable, low-cost plastic recycling.\u201d<\/p>\n

The innovation, created by researchers at NREL, allows for the swift recovery of PET monomers through enzymatic breakdown.<\/p>\n

These monomers can then be remade into virgin-quality PET, which is suitable for the production of products containing 100% recycled content.<\/p>\n

By securing the rights to this technology, Birch Biosciences intends to integrate NREL\u2019s downstream chemical processes into its proprietary biocatalytic recycling system.<\/p>\n

This integration is aimed at accelerating the commercialisation of sustainable solutions for managing plastic waste.<\/p>\n

Reportedly, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are generated worldwide each year, with only a small portion of this plastic effectively recycled, highlighting the need for alternative approaches.<\/p>\n

Enzymatic recycling offers a promising substitute for conventional recycling methods, as it prevents the quality degradation linked to mechanical recycling.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, it removes the necessity for high temperatures and harmful solvents that are often involved in chemical recycling techniques.<\/p>\n

NREL\u2019s chemical process operates in conjunction with Birch\u2019s enzyme platform, enabling the depolymerisation of untreated PET within hours under mild conditions.<\/p>\n

This method is designed to be more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable than conventional methods. <\/p>\n

NREL senior research fellow Gregg Beckham said: \u201cNREL is pleased to partner with Birch Biosciences to bring this technology to market.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a great example of how national laboratories and industry can collaborate to address plastics recycling challenges with real-world impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

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