Eastman to build $1bn plastics recycling facility
18/01/2022
This facility will use Eastman's polyester renewal technology to recycle up to 160,000 metric tonnes annually of hard-to-recycle plastic waste that is currently being incinerated.
The material is broken down into its molecular building blocks and then reassembled to become material without any compromise in performance. Eastman’s polyester renewal technology enables the potentially infinite value of materials.
The multi-phase project includes units that would prepare mixed plastic waste for processing, a methanolysis unit to depolymerize the waste, and polymer lines to create a variety of first-quality materials for specialty, packaging, and textile applications. Eastman also plans to establish an innovation centre for molecular recycling.
The plant and innovation centre should be operational by 2025, creating employment for 350 people and leading to an additional 1,500 indirect jobs in recycling, energy and infrastructure, according to the group.
Eastman CEO Mark Costa said: "The investment in France is a significant step forward in Eastman’s strategy to accelerate a circular economy globally. Eastman is proud to partner with the French government to actively contribute to France’s and the EU’s bold commitments.”
Eastman's project has garnered support from LVMH Beauty, The Estée Lauder Companies, Clarins, Procter & Gamble, L'Oréal and Danone, which will use packaging made from the new material.
Barbara Pompili, French Minister for Ecological Transition, said: "Accelerating the transition to a circular economy is one of the main challenges in the years to come. Eastman's substantial investment in France demonstrates our country's willingness to embrace innovative technologies that will help us achieve our ecological and economic ambitions, by revolutionising our country's plastics recycling capacities.”Share this story:
