This $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084) supports the development of advanced enzymatic processes for recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE) plastics. The primary focus is on engineering specialized enzymes that can efficiently break down PET plastic at low temperatures, enabling more sustainable and economically viable plastic recycling. The goal is to create a simplified, end-to-end recycling process that recovers high-quality chemical building blocks for remanufacturing PET plastic products from 100% recycled materials. This research aims to improve the economics, sustainability, and circularity of PET plastic recycling, ultimately increasing overall recycling rates and reducing plastic pollution and carbon emissions. The award recipient, Birch Biosciences LLC, is a for-profit limited liability company that specializes in enzyme engineering and biotechnology solutions for sustainability and circular economy applications.
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