To drive a more circular economy, we use two molecular recycling technologies — polyester renewal and carbon renewal — to create value from waste.
Polyester renewal technology (PRT), a form of molecular recycling, allows us to divert a range of hard-to-recycle polyester plastic waste, including materials like soft drink bottles, colored and opaque plastic, carpet fibers or even polyester-based clothing from landfills and incinerators.
Eastman’s PRT unzips polyesters, using methanolysis to convert them back to their basic monomers and create new materials. The molecules produced are indistinguishable from materials made with virgin or nonrecycled content. This process, also known as depolymerization, allows us to recycle polyester waste again and again without degradation over time and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 20%–30% at the intermediate level compared to processes using fossil fuels.
Our new molecular recycling facility in Kingsport, Tennessee that uses the methanolysis process became operational in early 2024.
