Tires Go Green as Carbios, Indorama, Michelin Unite

Carbios, Indorama and Michelin strike a deal to turn waste PET into tire fibres, even as plant delays test Europe's circular shift

22 Jul 2025

On July 21, 2025, Carbios unveiled a deal that could reshape Europe's plastics economy. The French biotech signed its first commercial agreement with Indorama Ventures to produce recycled PET filaments for Michelin tires, turning waste bottles into high-performance materials for the road.

The partnership ties Carbios's enzymatic recycling technology, which breaks down even complex PET into its raw building blocks, with Indorama's global manufacturing muscle. Michelin will use the resulting r-PET filaments to reinforce tires, advancing its goal of relying entirely on renewable materials by mid-century.

The momentum is real, but so are the hurdles. Construction of Carbios's Longlaville biorecycling plant has slipped by up to nine months, delaying its commercial debut from 2026 to 2027. Financing gaps are partly to blame, and the company is seeking fresh support to stay on track.

Still, the timing is strategic. The European Union now requires rising levels of recycled content in plastics: PET bottles must contain at least a quarter recycled material by 2025 and nearly a third by 2030. Such rules are sharpening demand for reliable r-PET sources and rewarding companies that can deliver them at scale.

For Carbios, the deal secures a steady customer for its breakthrough technology. For Indorama, it cements a place in premium recycled materials. For Michelin, it means progress toward greener tires without sacrificing performance.

The challenges of scaling remain, from competition for waste feedstock to the costs of industrial rollout. Yet the alliance signals something larger: advanced recycling is moving beyond pilot plants and into everyday industry. It shows how regulation, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration can turn circular economy ambitions into tangible products.

Europe's shift toward circular plastics just gained real traction, and this time, it is rolling on tires.