ARCHIBIO has received the ITMF Start-up Award 2026 for its enzyme-based PET recycling technology as it prepares to expand production capacity for recovering polyester from textile waste.
Named in the award announcement as Yuantian Biotechnology (Tianjin), ARCHIBIO was the only Chinese company among five winners worldwide. The award was presented at the ITMF & IAF Conference in Fortaleza, Brazil, held on October 14–15, 2026.
The company is constructing a production line with a planned annual capacity of 6,500 metric tonnes, with operations expected to begin by the end of 2026. The expansion follows two years of operation at its pilot facility, which has an annual recycled purified terephthalic acid (rPTA) capacity of 300 metric tonnes.
Recovering Polyester from Blended Textile Waste
ARCHIBIO uses engineered enzymes to break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the polymer used to produce polyester, into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
Following purification, these recovered monomers can be repolymerised into new polyester, marketed under the company’s RB®PET brand.
According to ARCHIBIO, the process can treat polyester-containing blends, including polyester-cotton and polyester-elastane fabrics.
By targeting the PET component, the technology offers a route to recovering polyester from mixed textile waste and returning it to production.
The company says RB®PET provides quality comparable to virgin polyester, with molecular-level recovery enabling textile waste to replace fossil-based feedstocks in new polyester manufacturing.
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Scaling Up Enzyme-Based Recycling
ARCHIBIO began its enzyme-engineering research in 2017. It has since developed an enzyme library containing more than 500,000 samples and uses AI-assisted screening to support the development of its proprietary enzymes.
Its activities span enzyme development, process engineering and production-line design. The integrated approach is intended to translate laboratory research into industrial production capable of supplying recycled raw materials to downstream manufacturers.
The company also reports Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT certifications, alongside more than 50 invention patent applications.
The ITMF Start-up Awards recognise emerging businesses developing products and processes for the textile industry, assessing technology, product value, scalability and market potential. For ARCHIBIO, the next step is completing its new production line and expanding applications for polyester recovered from textile waste.
