Carbios, the company behind the enzyme, does not aim to become a recycler itself but plans to license its process to other companies. They have formed a consortium with big brands such as Nestle, L'Oréal, and PepsiCo. The familiarity of the enzyme's product is both an advantage and a challenge. While it produces the same chemical monomers used by plastic producers, it will cost about 60% more than those derived from petrochemicals. However, Carbios CEO Emmanuel Ladent believes that as the company gains access to more feedstock, the cost of raw materials will go down.

While Carbios is leading the way in PET recycling, other research teams are also working on PET recycling using different enzymes. However, none of these teams have reached the point of scaling up their processes. Professor Andy Pickford from the University of Portsmouth is optimistic about Carbios' work and hopes that more people will buy into it if they see that it works. However, he is less optimistic about recycling other types of plastic and suggests that we should move away from using these plastics altogether.

Less than 10% of plastic worldwide is currently recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills. Carbios is already looking into developing enzymes to break down plastics with more complex chemical structures, such as nylon. The researchers hope that their work can help change the world and make it a better place by tackling the plastic waste problem.

Original news source: The T-shirt chewing enzyme ready to tackle plastic waste (BBC)

– News Summary
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– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to come up with three questions related to the article. These questions can be about the development of the enzyme, the potential impact on the environment, or any other aspect they find interesting. Once the questions are ready, have each group take turns asking their questions to the rest of the class. Encourage a discussion after each question to explore different perspectives and opinions.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Create a list of key vocabulary words from the article, such as "enzyme," "polymer," "monomers," "recycle," etc. Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a word from the list. Give them a few minutes to come up with a simple drawing or sketch that represents the word. Afterward, have each group present their drawing to the rest of the class, without using any words. The other students must guess the word based on the drawing.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Assign each group a specific section of the article to summarize. Give them a few minutes to read and discuss the section. Then, challenge them to summarize the section in one minute or less. Afterward, have each group take turns presenting their speedy summaries to the rest of the class.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: Write the following headline on the board: "Scientists Develop Enzyme to Break Down Plastic Waste." In pairs or small groups, ask the students to brainstorm alternative headlines for the article. Encourage them to be creative and think of catchy or attention-grabbing titles. Afterward, have each group share their headline ideas and discuss why they chose them.

A team of scientists at the University of ? in France has developed an enzyme that can break down ? ?. The enzyme, called ?, was re-engineered over eight years to become a specialist in breaking down PET plastic. PET is a polymer commonly found in plastic packaging and polyester clothing. The enzyme is so efficient that it can completely break down the PET polymer into its constituent monomers, which can then be used to make new plastic. The team has created a demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where they plan to scale up operations and recycle 50,000 tonnes of PET waste per year by 2025. Carbios, the company behind the ?, does not aim to become a recycler itself but plans to license its process to other companies. They have formed a consortium with big brands such as Nestle, ?, and PepsiCo. The familiarity of the enzyme's product is both an advantage and a challenge. While it ? the same chemical monomers used by plastic ?, it will cost about 60% more than those derived from petrochemicals. However, ? CEO Emmanuel Ladent believes that as the company gains access to more feedstock, the cost of raw materials will go down. While Carbios is leading the way in PET recycling, other ? teams are also working on PET recycling using different enzymes. However, none of these teams have reached the point of scaling up their processes. ? Andy ? from the University of Portsmouth is optimistic about Carbios' work and hopes that more people will buy into it if they see that it works. However, he is less optimistic about recycling other types of plastic and suggests that we should move away from using these plastics altogether. Less than 10% of plastic ?wide is currently recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills. Carbios is already looking into developing enzymes to break down plastics with more complex chemical ?, such as ?. The researchers hope that their work can help change the world and make it a better ? by tackling the plastic waste problem.

1. What is an enzyme and how does it work?
2. How would you feel if plastic waste could be completely broken down and recycled into new plastic?
3. Do you think it is important for companies to find solutions to the plastic waste problem? Why or why not?
4. What are some advantages and challenges of using enzymes to break down plastic waste?
5. How do you think the cost of raw materials for recycled plastic will change in the future?
6. Do you think it is realistic to expect a significant increase in plastic recycling in the near future? Why or why not?
7. What are some potential benefits of using enzymes to recycle plastics with more complex chemical structures?
8. Do you think it is possible to completely eliminate the use of certain types of plastic? Why or why not?
9. How do you think the development of enzymes to break down plastic waste will impact the environment?
10. What are some potential drawbacks or limitations of using enzymes for plastic recycling?
11. How do you think the plastic waste problem can be effectively addressed on a global scale?
12. Do you think the responsibility for plastic waste management should lie with individuals, companies, or governments? Why or why not?
13. How do you think the development of enzymes for plastic recycling will impact the economy?
14. What are some potential long-term effects of plastic waste on the environment and human health?
15. Do you think it is possible to achieve a world without plastic waste? Why or why not?

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