Optimizing recycled plastic is a target for US-based supplier Eastman. The group is currently working to develop plastic materials that can regenerate themselves by using complementary recycling methods.
In a bid to take advantage of traditional mechanical recycling, the supplier launched Cristal Rev?l, a co-polyester composed of 40% PCR that can be molded in thicknesses of up to 15mm without crystallizing, thus retaining the transparency of a conventional PETG. At the end-of-life phase, it can integrate PET recycling streams.
At Luxe Pack Monaco the group also presented a second version of Treva, its bio-plastic launched last year as an alternative to ABS. It retains its content of 48% cellulose, but the remaining share is now 23.5% recycled, and only 28.5% is virgin material of fossil origin. The recycled material used in this case comes from Eastman’s chemical recycling process. Compared to mechanical recycling, its advantage is that it is possible to process and decontaminate impurities from the most diverse plastics to remake monomers.
Eastman is developing the process to orient it towards polyester recycling. This recycled polyester will be able to account for a significant proportion of the transparent co-polyesters for its Glass Polymer range, aimed at the cosmetics segment, without compromising on quality. Eastman plans to open a unit dedicated to this technology within the next two years.
