KINGSPORT, Tenn., April 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastman (NYSE: EMN) announced today a breakthrough innovation to address the world's plastic waste
problem.
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Eastman's innovation-driven growth strategy, underpinned by creating value through sustainability and a commitment to
enhancing the quality of life in a material way, is driving the company's efforts to advance the circular economy by finding new
uses for products or materials otherwise reaching end of life. In March, the company announced plans to launch an advanced circular recycling technology that breaks down polyester waste that cannot be recycled by current
mechanical methods into basic polymer building blocks that can be reintroduced as new polyester-based polymers, delivering a true
circular solution.
Today's announcement introduces a second Eastman innovation called carbon renewal technology, which is capable of recycling some of the most complex plastic waste, including
non-polyester plastics and mixed plastics that cannot be recycled with conventional recycling technologies. With this new
recycling technology, materials such as flexible packaging and plastic films, among others, can be diverted from landfills.
By modifying the front end of Eastman's cellulose manufacturing stream, carbon renewal technology uses plastic waste as
feedstock and converts it back to simple and versatile molecular components. The process partially oxidizes the plastic and, at a
very high efficiency, converts it into the basic building blocks of cellulosics products in Eastman's Advanced Materials and
Fibers business segments that serve ophthalmics, durables, packaging, textiles and nonwovens end-use markets.
Eastman has completed pilot tests at its Kingsport site and plans commercial production in
2019 by leveraging existing assets. This rapid success in developing a new recycling approach is a further example of how Eastman
leverages its scale and integration to provide sustainable solutions to the world.
Eastman is exploring commercial collaborations to yield mixed plastic waste to be recycled through carbon renewal technology
at commercial scale.
Board Chair and CEO Mark Costa said, "Eastman has the technology, the innovation power and the
people to make a difference. Eastman is now uniquely positioned to deliver two powerful innovation solutions that target
different plastic waste streams that pose complex challenges. Plastics are used in so many important ways. But because some
don't have good end-of-life solutions or are discarded, the world is facing a problem of significant magnitude."
"Eastman is embracing its stated purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way for people around the world,"
Costa added. "This translates not only to producing superior materials for the products consumers use daily but also contributes
in a meaningful way to a circular economy – an economy where we reuse and repurpose our resources so they retain their value for
as long as possible."
Steve Crawford, senior vice president and chief technology officer for Eastman, said the new
recycling portfolio is a perfect example of the company's innovation-driven growth strategy.
"As a leader in materials innovation, Eastman can now provide unique solutions that will support our customers and end users
in achieving their sustainability goals," Crawford said. "Eastman's circular technologies represent the opportunity for
partnerships to provide solutions, including end-of-life options, that will have an impact on the global waste problem."
For more information, visit eastman.com/circular.
About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With
the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and
solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company's innovation-driven growth model takes
advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its
leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally
inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,500 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100
countries. The company had 2018 revenues of approximately $10 billion and is headquartered in
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit eastman.com.
Media Contact:
Laura Mansfield, APR
The Tombras Group
+1 (865) 599.9968
lmansfield@tombras.com
Company Contact:
Brad Lifford
Eastman
blifford@eastman.com
+1 (423) 229.6543
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SOURCE Eastman