Issue 3, 2022 - Eastman intends to build a world-class recycling plant in France

Eastman plans to build a world-class recycling plant in France

On January 18, French President Emmanuel Macron and Eastman Chairman and CEO Mark Costa jointly announced that Eastman plans to invest up to $1 billion in France to build a molecular-scale recycling facility
for material conversion.
The facility will use Eastman's polyester recycling technology to recycle up to 160,000 tons of hard-to-recycle plastic waste each year, which is currently being incinerated
.

This investment will recycle enough plastic waste to fill the Stade de France (French national football stadium) 2.
5 times a year, while also developing materials
with raw quality in a way that significantly reduces the carbon footprint.
Eastman was the largest investor in this year's Choose France campaign, which focused on attracting foreign investment to France
.

This multi-phase project includes a plant to prepare a hybrid plastic waste for treatment, a methanol breakdown plant to depolymerize the waste, and a polymer line
to create a wide range of high-quality materials for specialty, packaging and textile applications.
Eastman also plans to establish a molecular recycling innovation center to enable France to continue to play a leading role
in the circular economy.
The innovation center will advance alternative recycling methods and applications to control plastic waste incineration and preserve fossil raw materials
in the ground.
The plant and innovation center are expected to be operational
in 2025.