Eastman Process To Enable Fast, Economical Recycling Of PET Containers

Eastman Chemical Co. (Kingsport, TN) is developing a new recycling technology that will economically process many PET bottle containers that cannot be readily handled by existing recycling systems. In related news, Eastman appointed Beat Zueger as director of global recycling to manage Eastman's worldwide recycling business associated with the new technology.

The new technology, which Eastman is currently developing and patenting, is a depolymerization process for recycling PET containers regardless of color, coating, composite, or barrier material. The new process allows for the production of food contact grade PET, and uses less energy than it takes to produce new virgin polymers. A pilot plant for the new technology was recently started up in Kingsport.

Almost all conventional PET recycling is mechanical in nature. Under current methods, plastic is cleaned, chopped, melted, and formed into other plastic products for applications in industries such as textiles (fibers) and agriculture (sheets and strapping).

Eastman's new technology, on the other hand, breaks the plastic down into its basic components, separates the unwanted materials, and creates a virgin material from a different raw material source for the production of economically competitive new packaging materials. These materials can be used as virgin polymer for containers, film, or structured products.

Eastman Chemical Co. manufactures and markets plastics, chemicals, and fibers.

For more information, call Mark Wright of Eastman Chemical Co. at 423-229-1861.