Photo courtesy of Eastman
Eastman Paves Way for a Sustainable Future
When it comes to sustainable innovation, Eastman has 100 years of expertise. Eastman has grown to become a global force, making changes all around the world to improve quality of life in a material way. One key focus is the firsthand challenges that people face related to one of the most critical issues in human history: climate change.
Eastman’s approach to mitigating climate change is multifaceted and designed to make sustainable innovation an asset to the vinyl industry. Not only is there a commitment to the company’s environmental footprint to limit the energy used across operations, but it also focuses on the needs and expectations of the market and commercializes products that enable carbon savings at the consumer level.
Molecular Recycling: Optimizing Recycling Technology
Eastman continues to realize its mission to enhance the quality of life in a material way by assessing macro trends and innovating for a sustainable future. On the road map of innovation for the next decade, Eastman strives to be intentional about the way products and technologies decrease the environmental impact on the planet, drive solutions for more circular materials, and care for society. In response to the global need to provide solutions to the waste plastic issue, Eastman has commercialized two molecular recycling technologies at scale and has launched multiple products in various markets to leverage polyester and acetyl streams.
In efforts to create an optimized circular economy, Eastman is investing to build the world’s largest material-to-material molecular recycling plant in France as well as an additional production facility in Kingsport, Tennessee. The facility in Kingsport is expected to open in the first quarter of 2023 and will help the company achieve its ambitious sustainability commitments to address the plastic waste crisis. Eastman has committed to recycling more than 250 million pounds of plastic waste annually by 2025 and more than 500 million pounds of plastic waste annually by 2030 via molecular recycling technologies.
Graphic courtesy of Eastman
The Next Step to Sustainability
With unique molecular recycling technologies, Eastman is working to create a wide range of products, including plasticizers that contain even higher percentages of recycled content to meet the growing demands for sustainability. This process includes replacing traditional fossil feedstocks with renewable content to create a line of plasticizers that represent ISCC-certified recycled content. Powered by molecular recycling that diverts plastic waste from landfills, incinerators, and our oceans, the Renew family of plasticizers are drop-in replacements that don’t compromise on performance and even help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These innovative plasticizers are chemically identical to legacy plasticizers and don’t require a change in formulation, process, storage, or certifications, helping transform brands towards more environmentally friendly practices.
About Eastman
Eastman is a global specialty materials company headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee. Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions with an ongoing commitment to safety and sustainability. With innovation-driven growth as a leading priority, world-class technology platforms help drive customer engagement and take a leading position in transportation, building, and construction markets. Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and proudly serves customers in more than 100 countries. For additional information, please visit https://www.eastman.com/pages/home.aspx
Why +Vantage Vinyl™?
Eastman believes that no one innovation, company, or organization can make it happen. Working together is the key to driving a lasting change. Eastman is proud to engage with leading voices like +Vantage Vinyl™ in the push for circularity.
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