New Eastman tech innovation promises to up post-consumer-waste content of beauty packaging
“Tritan's toughness has been enabling durable, reusable products to reduce the waste from single-use materials since its introduction in 2008,” says Scott Ballard, Vice President and General Manager for Eastman Specialty Plastics, in this month’s media release about the new material.
Now, “thanks to the rapid innovation of polyester renewal technology, Tritan Renew adds certified recycled content to its exceptional performance and delivers one of the most exciting sustainability solutions available.”
Eastman has plans to make plastic fit neatly in the circular economy
One of the challenges to material reuse is the prevalence of plastic and its limited recyclability. But Eastman is working to find technologies that make plastics useful in new ways and through more cycles.
“In 2019, the company began commercial-scale recycling for a broad set of plastics to keep material from being sent to landfills or incinerated or, worse, ending up in the environment,” explains this month’s media release.
And Mark Costa, Board Chair and CEO of Eastman says that “Tritan Renew is a significant step forward for Eastman as the first product to market using molecular recycling made possible by Eastman's Advanced Circular Recycling technologies. We have made considerable progress over the past year to create sustainable solutions that convert millions of pounds of waste into new materials.”
Eastman is making polyester material that can become beauty packaging
The new Tritan Renew copolyester material is suitable for an array of plastic consumer products, and as the company site notes, can increase certified recycled content by up to 50%.
According to the media release, “Eastman is producing Tritan Renew with certified recycled content for a variety of durable products, including reusable sports bottles, small appliances, food-storage containers and eyewear, as well as textiles and cosmetics packaging. The recycled content of these products is achieved through a mass balance allocation process certified by ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification).”
New Eastman tech promises performance and sustainability
Tritan Renew is made via a molecular recycling process that “breaks down waste plastic back into its basic chemical building blocks, allowing plastic materials to be recycled again and again,” according to the company’s online product page. It’s BPA-free and promises to have the same safety and performance of newly created petrochemical plastics.
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In 2020, progress toward a circular economy has become the leading sustainability strategy for beauty industry manufacturers and suppliers, and as such a topic that Deanna Utroske writes about quite often. As Editor of CosmeticsDesign.com, she writes daily news about not only circularity but about all aspects of the business of beauty in the Americas region. And, she regularly produces video interviews with cosmetics, fragrance, personal care, and packaging experts as well as with indie brand founders.
Hers is a leading voice in the cosmetics and personal care industry as well as in the indie beauty movement and a globally sought-after speak and industry commentator. Deanna regularly shares her insights and observations at industry events, with market research firms, and with both trade and consumer beauty publications.
