"Yuantian Biology" Enters the Automotive and Japanese Markets by Recycling PET with Enzymatic Method after Receiving Strategic Investment from Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) | Exclusive Report by 36Kr

Text | Zhang Bingbing

Editor | A Zhi

36Kr learned that Yuantian Biotechnology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Yuantian Biotechnology") recently announced that it has received strategic investment from Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. This round of financing, together with the investment from Tianchuang Capital in September this year, constitutes a series of continuous capital actions, with a cumulative financing of tens of millions of yuan.

After this financing, the two parties will jointly develop back - end application products in relevant fields such as clothing yarn, industrial yarn, food packaging, and engineering plastics. Relying on the advantages of Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in the automotive industry chain and its accumulation in the Japanese market, "Yuantian Biotechnology" hopes to enter the automotive supply chain system and open up international markets such as Japan through diversified products.

"Yuantian Biotechnology" is an enterprise that 36Kr has been following for a long time. It focuses on the industrialization and commercialization of the enzymatic regeneration of waste PET. Its core technology is the development of highly efficient PET degrading enzymes, which can decompose various waste PET materials into rPTA and rMEG monomers under normal temperature and pressure conditions. Then, through polymerization, brand - new recycled PET plastics can be obtained, realizing the upgraded recycling and infinite circular utilization of PET.

Based on the R & D experience of PET enzymatic regeneration, "Yuantian Biotechnology" is expanding a multi - plastic recycling system from PET to PA6 (polyamide 6). Currently, the biological recycling of PA6 can operate independently as a separate pipeline.

In terms of the PET production line, "Yuantian Biotechnology" continuously iterates the production line process package to improve product quality and further reduce costs. "We have made further technological iterations in the fermentation, enzymatic hydrolysis, and purification processes," said Dr. You Shengping, the founder of "Yuantian Biotechnology". The Rb - PET products of "Yuantian Biotechnology" perform better than virgin PET in many indicators such as trace organic matter. The product cost of the 5,000 - ton production line has reached the expected level, and the product cost of the future 100,000 - ton production line is expected to be further reduced to compete with the cost of virgin PET.

Rb - PET series products of "Yuantian Biotechnology"

Currently, the biological enzymatic regeneration PTA project of "Yuantian Biotechnology" has been launched in Tianjin Economic Development Zone. The total investment of the project is about 150 million yuan, with a designed scale of 5,000 tons. It is expected to be put into production next year, and the full - production scale will be close to 10,000 tons. The 100,000 - ton production line of "Yuantian Biotechnology" is also in progress. You Shengping introduced that in addition to capital and land reserves, the technical side is already selecting equipment to meet the requirements of the process package for the 100,000 - ton production line, and the overall engineering team is being built according to the standards of the 100,000 - ton production line.

In terms of market expansion, "Yuantian Biotechnology" is focusing on promoting cooperation with brand customers in the textile, daily chemical, and other fields. The strategic cooperation with Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. this time is also to further enter the automotive industry chain with the help of the resources of the industrial partner and expand the Japanese market.

Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. is committed to the global promotion and application of sustainable materials. Its main partner, Toyota Motor, is a global leading automobile manufacturer. Polyester materials can be used for automotive interior materials and safety system products such as airbags and seat belts.

Jiang Gangwen, the co - founder of "Yuantian Biotechnology", pointed out that the demand for recycled materials in the automotive industry is growing explosively. This is driven by both relevant regulations and the rigid demand of the industry chain for environmentally friendly materials. Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. was originally the largest service provider for polyester exports to Japan and has unique industrial synergy advantages. "Through the industrial advantages of Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., we are promoting the industry and making corresponding global business layouts from the food, fiber, engineering plastics, and film sectors."

Specifically, in terms of cooperation, the first is to integrate recycled polyester materials into the automotive industry chain through the supply chain system of Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. to achieve large - scale application; the second is to focus on the development of monomer materials. The high - end polyester industry in Japan is well - developed. After re - processing in Japan, rPTA monomer materials can be made into high - end polyester products and sold to Japan and even the world.

After this financing, the short - and medium - term goal of "Yuantian Biotechnology" is to achieve a closed - loop from the supply chain, factory establishment, to product sales of the 5,000 - ton production line, make a systematic plan for the 100,000 - ton production line, and lay a solid industrial foundation for the subsequent promotion of the enzymatic regeneration PET technology overseas.

Views of the investor:

Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.: Toyota Tsusho (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. has always been committed to the global promotion and application of sustainable materials. This strategic investment in Yuantian Biotechnology is because we are optimistic about the broad market prospects of biological enzymatic regeneration technology and products. At the same time, the rigor and pragmatism of the Yuantian Biotechnology team have strengthened our confidence.

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This article is from the WeChat official account "36Kr Future Industries". Author: Zhang Bingbing, A Zhi. Republished by 36Kr with permission.