DirectIndustry – June 2024

Carbon Blue aims to recycle plastic waste. Founded by Stéphane Testa, the company transforms used plastic sourced from the Marseille area into unique furniture, sold locally. They plan to replicate this model throughout France and internationally. Carbon Blue’s microplastic recycling factories are already being set up in Bordeaux and maybe soon in Africa. We visited the Testa family at their pilot micro-factory in Gémenos, near Marseille.

Plastic, a cornerstone of 20th-century industrialization, is now a major pollutant. The UN warns of a “toxic tidal wave” with 400 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually. This waste pollutes oceans, soil, and the food chain, posing a significant environmental threat alongside global warming.

The Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Directive targets plastic pollution by mandating all packaging be reusable or recyclable by 2030. However, plastic production continues due to its utility in packaging, storage, and transportation, leading to an accumulation of waste.