Eastman & Loop Industries announce massive investments in French recycling initiatives

US-based speciality materials company Eastman revealed plans on Jan 17^th to invest nearly $1bn in a new material-to-material molecular recycling facility in France. The company will build what it describes as the world’s biggest recycling plant using its polyester renewal technology, which can process up to 160,000 metric tons of “hard-to-recycle” plastic per year that would otherwise be incinerated. The site, including the manufacturing plant and an innovation center, should be fully functional by 2025. The plastic waste will be processed and depolymerized to produce materials for specialty, packaging, and textile applications. Eastman’s multi-phase project is being backed by major global brands who have signed letters of intent for future supply agreements including LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics, The Estée Lauder Companies, Clarins, Procter & Gamble, L'Oréal and Danone.

Clean technology company Loop Industries’ plant will be based in Normandy, where the company has secured exclusive rights for a site valued at €1.3m to house Europe’s first Infinite Loop manufacturing facility. The project is a joint venture with French environmental services group Suez. Infinite Loop’s manufacturing model allows for the annual production of around 70,000 tons of PET resin made from 100% recycled waste material. The company currently works with leading consumer goods groups including Danone, L’Oréal and L’Occitane. In line with France’s objective of transitioning to 100% recyclable plastic by 2025, the Loop Industries project has been supported by the French Government. “This investment will contribute to the transition of our country towards a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. It marks a milestone in the development of circular economy technologies,” explains Agnès Pannier-Runacher, France’s Minister Delegate for Industry.