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Eastman has announced that it is investing approximately $250 million over the next two years to build one of the world’s largest plastic-to-plastic molecular recycling facility at its site in Kingsport, Tenn. Announced jointly by Eastman’s board chair and CEO Mark Costa and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in a January 29 press event, the planned facility will utilize the methanolysis polyester renewal process, first developed by Kodak 30 years ago to recycle polyester photographic film.  Eastman's experience with methanolysis makes it uniquely qualified to be a leader in delivering this solution at commercial scale, according to Costa.

Polyester-based waste feedstock from PET bottles, packaging, carpets and textiles will be converted into high-performance materials across Eastman’s specialty plastics division’s product portfolio, including Tritan Renew copolyester for use in durable products within the electronics and medical device sectors and Cristal Renew copolyester for the cosmetics market sector.  This process of using plastic waste as the main feedstock is a true material-to-material solution and will not only reduce the company's use of fossil feedstocks, but also reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30% relative to fossil feedstocks. The technology will allow Eastman to divert waste that would otherwise be landfilled, incinerated or end up in our waterways.