Circular economy in action with Eastman’s advanced recycling technologies

Depolymerisation: breaking it down to basic building blocks, Eastman

Giving new life to the most complex mixed plastic waste with Eastman’s material to material polyester renewal technology and carbon renewal technology

In January 2022, Eastman announced their plan to invest up to $1 billion in a material-to-material molecular recycling facility in France that is expected to be operational by 2025. This facility will use Eastman’s polyester renewal technology to recycle up to 160 million kg annually of hard to recycle plastic waste that is currently being incinerated. Eastman will also establish an innovation center for molecular recycling that will enable France to sustain a leadership role in the circular economy. This innovation center will advance alternative recycling methods and applications to curb plastic waste incineration and leave fossil feedstock in the ground.  

A circular economy is key to addressing the global plastic waste crisis and the climate crisis, both of which have been at the center of attention in France and throughout Europe. This long-term partnership between France and Eastman will contribute to the EU achieving its sustainability goals, by reducing carbon emissions and enabling a circular economy and contribute to Eastman’s commitment to recycle more than 225 million kg plastics per year. 

Showing the world what’s possible

In 2019, Eastman commercialised two advanced recycling technologies that accept plastic waste as feedstock. Its advanced recycling technologies, polyester renewal technology (depolymerisation) and carbon renewal technology (gasification), help recycle plastics and textiles that cannot be processed by mechanical recycling today or cannot be recycled by mechanical methods without compromising the quality of the material.

The process  breaks waste materials down to their molecular building blocks to be reassembled into new materials. Keeping them in infinite production, lifecycle after lifecycle.

Those advanced recycling technologies show 20-30% improvements in carbon footprint in the production of key building blocks used to make Eastman Renew products that contain certified recycled content.

Currently, more than 20 brands and companies sell products made with Eastman materials derived from plastic waste – waste that includes packaging and carpet fibers. Its partners include P&G, LVMH, H&M, Estée Lauder, CamelBak and Tupperware. End markets include, for example, reusable water bottles, cosmetics packaging, eyewear and textiles.

For more information, visit www.eastman.eco.

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