Eastman

KINGSPORT, Tenn., May 21, 2024 /CSRwire/ - Pact Collective and Eastman announce they have qualified the use of clean, multicolor PET waste from Pact members and consumers as feedstock for Eastman’s methanolysis technology. This process addresses the challenge of multicolored PET received at material recovery facilities (MRF), which in some instances is unlikely to be mechanically recycled due to color variations. Eastman’s methanolysis process enables the upcycling of this material into Eastman Renew materials — high-quality copolyesters and PET for the beauty industry that offer a quality on par with virgin materials.

"Eastman's collaboration with Pact Collective has been a journey of shared vision and commitment. Our combined efforts are ensuring a more sustainable future for the beauty industry,” said Tara Cary, Eastman cosmetics packaging segment manager. “By harnessing our methanolysis technology, we are turning challenges into opportunities and leading the way towards a future where beauty packaging waste is a valuable resource, not a burden."

Pact Collective, a nonprofit organization, spearheads the management of beauty packaging take-back programs at retail and consumer levels. These programs play a vital role in ensuring that packaging waste is managed in an environmentally responsible way.

“Pact works to identify the highest and best use for the material we collect through our collection programs, always starting with mechanical recycling when possible. Eastman’s technology gives Pact’s material that may otherwise be destined for waste-to-energy the opportunity for a better end of life,” said Pact Executive Director Carly Snider. “Eastman may even help us keep this plastic material in circulation, creating more post-consumer recycled content that can be used in future beauty packaging.”

Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies are ideally suited to managing the complex waste collected through these take-back programs. Eastman’s methanolysis breaks down hard-to-recycle PET waste to its essential building blocks (monomers) that Eastman uses to create its high-performance materials.

Eastman and Pact are committed to validating more complex streams of beauty packaging waste for Eastman’s molecular recycling. This ongoing effort aims to reduce the dependency on less sustainable options like waste-to-energy or landfilling, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

About Eastman

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2023 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit  www.eastman.com.

About Pact Collective

Pact Collective is a nonprofit organization that unites the beauty industry to take responsibility for its packaging waste and to collaborate toward more sustainable solutions. Pact provides the most transparent solution for closing the loop on hard-to-recycle beauty packaging and uses its findings to inform the beauty industry on designing more sustainable packaging at the start of the design process.

Media contact 
Kristin Parker 
1-423-229-2526 
kristin@eastman.com

Pact Collective contact 
press@pactcollective.org

Henkel

Henkel

About Henkel in North America
Henkel’s portfolio of well-known brands in North America includes Dial® soaps, Persil® and all® laundry detergents, Snuggle® fabric softeners, Schwarzkopf® hair care, as well as Loctite®, OSI®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives. With sales close to 6.6 billion US dollars (6 billion euros) in 2023, North America accounts for 28 percent of the company’s global sales. Henkel employs around 8,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit http://www.henkel-northamerica.com and on X (Twitter) @Henkel_NA.

About Henkel
With its brands, innovations and technologies, Henkel holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer businesses. The business unit Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the market for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. With Consumer Brands, the company holds leading positions especially in laundry & home care and hair in many markets and categories around the world. The company's three strongest brands are Loctite, Persil and Schwarzkopf. In fiscal 2023, Henkel reported sales of more than 21.5 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of around 2.6 billion euros. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. Sustainability has a long tradition at Henkel, and the company has a clear sustainability strategy with specific targets. Henkel was founded in 1876 and today employs a diverse team of about 48,000 people worldwide – united by a strong corporate culture, shared values and a common purpose: "Pioneers at heart for the good of generations.” More information at www.henkel.com.

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