Eastman Chemical Company has introduced carbon renewal technology, a breakthrough innovation to recycle all kinds of plastic waste including non-polyester and mixed plastics. The technology is based on the breakdown of complex polyester into its molecular components. 

Commercial recycling plants have a limited ability to recycle all kinds of plastic waste. Current mechanical methods are also unable to breakdown all types of polyester waste. With carbon renewal technology, Eastman uses advanced circular technology to breakdown complex polyester waste into its molecular components which can be used to rebuild new polyester-based polymers.

Carbon renewal technology has been developed by modifying the front end of Eastman's cellulosic production process, using plastic waste as a feedstock. Through the process, the plastic waste is partially oxidized at very high efficiency. The result of the process is the basic molecular components of the original waste which can be rebuilt to manufacture Eastman products for the ophthalmic industry, packaging textiles and durable industries. 

The technology can be used for efficient recycling of mixed plastics, non-polyester plastics, flexible packaging and plastic films among other waste types. 

Eastman has completed pilot tests of the technology at Kingsport and plans to commercially introduce it in the markets in 2019. The technology won the End-of-life innovation price of the 2020 Re|focus Sustainability Award. 

Eastman is currently exploring possible collaborations for the collection of plastic waste on a commercial scale for its carbon renewal technology.