NEWS
Eastman works on PET and mixed recycling
Eastman has started a project to develop chemical recycling technology for polyesters. The US company said it is currently conduct- ing an engineering feasibil- ity study on the design and construction of a commer- cial scale methanolysis facility and has engaged in discussions with potential partners on the develop- ment of the facility. Its goal is to be operating a full-scale, advanced recycling facility within 24 to 36 months. Eastman has more than
three decades of expertise in using methanolysis, which enables polyester-based products to be broken down into their polymer building blocks. These can then be reintroduced to the produc- tion of new polyester materials. The company says its advanced circular recycling technology can be used on low-quality polyester waste that would typically be
Extended approval for 705
Eastman has completed pilot tests on a “carbon renewal technology” at its Kingsport site in the US
diverted to landfill. The tech- nology can convert that material into high-quality polyesters suitable for use in a variety of end markets, including food contact applications. The company has also announced a “carbon renewal technology” project, which it says is capable of recycling some of the most complex plastic waste, including non-polyester plastics and mixed plastics that cannot be recycled with
conventional recycling technologies, such as flexible packaging and plastic films. It has completed pilot tests at its Kingsport site in the US, and plans commercial production in 2019 by leveraging existing assets. Eastman said that by modifying the front end of its cellulosics production, this technology can use plastic waste as feedstock and convert it back to molecular components. �
www.eastman.com
The US Food & Drug Administration has granted an extension of its approv- als of SI Group’s Weston 705 and 705T liquid phosphite antioxidants for use as food contact substances in styrene block polymers and repeat-use elastomers under condi- tions of use A through H with concentration up to 0.5 wt%. This confirms that they are toxicologically clean and can be widely applied in the growing elastomers industry. Weston 705 and 705T have food contact approv- al in over 180 countries, also including the EU, China and Canada. They protect the colour and mechanical properties of polymers during the manufacturing, storage and conversion processes, including food contact applications. �
www.siigroup.com
EU challenged on chemical recycling
Chemical Recycling Europe (CRE), a newly established industry body representing firms active in chemical recycling of plastics, has issued a position paper describing chemical recycling as “a complementary recy- cling solution to boost plastics circular- ity and reduce the carbon footprint”. As such, it said, it should form part of the EU strategy to reduce plastics waste and has not had enough emphasis in the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan. Under this plan, CRE said, the EU has
10 COMPOUNDING WORLD | May 2019
set out ambitious targets for EU member states, including clear goals to curb plastic waste, increase resource efficiency, and create value and job growth in Europe. “However, by focusing its strategy on mechanical recycling, it falls short of presenting a comprehensive approach. Concrete steps towards increasing plastic waste recyclability and reducing landfilling and incineration involves supporting innovative recycling solutions such as chemical recycling,” it said. CRE warns that the targets in the EU
plastic strategy cannot be achieved by mechanical recycling alone as the collection and recycling system is not yet cost-effective and the quality of recyclate is not sufficient to replace virgin plastic on a large scale. In addition, it said development of technologies to recycle hard-to-recycle plastic waste “is outpacing the regula- tion and policy around it” while the lack of a “structured and harmonised approach to waste collection and recycling” is constraining companies. �
www.chemicalrecyclingeurope.eu
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: EASTMAN
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
