Eastman Collaborates with Nord Pal Plast to Expand Feedstock Options in France

Eastman Chemical Co, based in Kingsport, Tennessee, has unveiled a comprehensive and long-term agreement with Nord Pal Plast SA, a part of Dentis Group, a prominent Italian multinational specializing in the recovery and mechanical recycling of PET packaging waste. This strategic collaboration extends across Dentis Group's mechanical recycling sites situated in France, Spain, and Italy. Dentis will supply Eastman with 30,000 metric tonnes annually of rejected PET post-consumer waste, currently lacking a circular solution. These materials are slated to undergo recycling at Eastman's molecular recycling facility located in Port-Jérôme-sur-Seine, Normandy, France.

This partnership signifies the synergies between mechanical and molecular recycling processes, underlining their collective role in shaping a more sustainable future. By pooling their expertise and resources, Eastman and Dentis aim to realize true circularity in the recycling process, optimizing the value derived from waste materials and concurrently mitigating environmental impact. This development follows Eastman's recent collaboration with North American recycling firm Rumpke to expand advanced recycling capacity for PET waste.

Corrado Dentis, CEO of Dentis/Nord Pal Plast, expressed enthusiasm about the agreement with Eastman, emphasizing the group's commitment to driving a transition from a linear to a circular economy in the packaging market. He expressed that the partnership contributes to the establishment of a valuable platform for reducing PET waste. This, in turn, makes mechanical and chemical recycling effectively complementary, thereby contributing to the accomplishments of European Plastic recycling rates.

Brad Lich, the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Eastman, conveyed agreement with Dentis's sentiments. He expressed satisfaction with the collaboration with Dentis/Nord Pal Plast, highlighting that it exemplifies Eastman's dedication to collaboration and working alongside mechanical recyclers to address the plastic waste crisis. Lich characterized this partnership as a testimony to their shared objective of reducing plastic waste and promoting the circular economy. He further noted that, with more than 70% of the feedstock secured for their upcoming recycling plant in Normandy, encompassing materials typically declined by mechanical recyclers, this agreement stands as a significant aspect of their feedstock availability. Additionally, it serves to underscore their commitment to sustainable solutions.

Eastman's molecular recycling facility in Normandy is set to become the world's largest material-to-material molecular recycling plant. Upon reaching full capacity after phase 1 and phase 2, the facility will have the capability to recycle more than 200,000 tonnes of hard-to-recycle polyester waste annually. This substantial investment in France underscores Eastman's unwavering commitment to sustainable solutions and aligns with the company's overarching goal of establishing a more circular economy.

Eastman's molecular recycling technologies play a pivotal role in breaking down hard-to-recycle waste into its molecular building blocks. This innovative process by Eastman unlocks the potential for infinite material value, ensuring that materials remain in the production cycle repeatedly. The company's strides in molecular recycling reflect a forward-looking approach to addressing plastic waste challenges and contributing to a more sustainable and circular future.