ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JULY/AUGUST 2023 28 The world is facing three extraordinary, interrelated challenges that pose a significant threat to human health and the health of the planet. Climate change, plastic waste pollution, and the need for sustainable materials to meet the demands of nearly 10 billion people may seem to be insurmountable problems. Nevertheless, these issues are solvable. They are, however, complex and require solutions starting at the most basic level of analysis: the molecular level. For this reason, the materials industry must take the lead. One company tackling these challenges is Eastman. They are focused on materials innovation, including prac- ticing molecular recycling at scale, which is at the core of its strategy. Recognizing that time is of the essence, the company says it is taking action now to disrupt the linear economy and spearhead the shift toward a circular economy. Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies can process hard-to- recycle plastics otherwise destined for a landfill, incineration, or the environment (Fig. 1). These technologies use waste as a feedstock to produce new materials with significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional processes that use fossil feedstocks. The company’s circular economy platform adheres to a set of principles that include a commitment to only practice material-to-material molecular recycling technologies to produce recycled materials, not fuel. Eastman believes that reducing, reusing, and recycling are all fundamental to a circular economy and are only the beginning of what’s needed. Material- to-material recycling that improves quality of life and is a complement to mechanical recycling is central to building true circularity. Technologies must also be economically viable and transparent. The company offers recycled specialty materials, based on ISCC- certified mass balance allocation, that can yield products with up to 100% certified recycled content. It also produces “Renew” versions of some of its best-known brands such as Eastman Tritan Renew copolyesters, Eastman Cristal Renew, and Eastman Naia Renew cellulosic fibers. PLASTIC RECYCLING ROADBLOCKS Because plastic is an incredibly versatile and energy-efficient material, it is often the best material for many packaging solutions due to its durability and light weight. The world produces 300 million metric tons of plastic each year, with only 12% of it recycled (Fig. 2). Yet the science shows that the world is in the throes of a climate crisis, and the materials industry must adapt to be part of the solution. Why is so little plastic recycled? Primarily, the recycling industry has been limited by technology. The basic recycling technology, mechanical recycling, is an essential solution because it is efficient—but it is limited to processing a very small set of plastics. The quality of the output also degrades through continuous recycling cycles. Additional recycling solutions that address the complexity of plastic waste and complement mechanical recycling are critical to address the crisis. That is why Eastman launched a circular economy platform built on molecular recycling technologies. The company has set aggressive goals including using molecular recycling technologies to reclaim more than 500 million pounds of plastic annually by 2030, along with achieving a series of climate commitments that will put it on a trajectory to be carbon neutral by 2050. Eastman’s climate and circularity MOLECULAR RECYCLING FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY One company is moving the needle in the plastic waste crisis using a depolymerization process called methanolysis to create new high-performance materials. CASE STUDY Fig. 1 – Examples of molecular recycling feedstocks include plastic beverage bottles, polyester carpet fiber, and cellulose acetate plastic scrap.
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