Eastman brings recyclability to luxury resin production

28 Sep 2021 --- Launching its recent Cristal One range, Eastman aims to enable brands to create packaging that is recyclable through traditional municipal streams. In addition, the specialty materials company hopes to provide an option that allows beauty names to meet the high-end aesthetics that luxury packaging requires.

“Eastman is well-known for delivering crystal-clear resins that meet the aesthetic and performance needs of the cosmetics industry,” says Tara R. Cary, the company’s segment market manager for cosmetics and personal care. “Until now, brands that wanted thick-walled packaging and recyclability were at a loss for a suitable material. Consumers are demanding sustainable products that do not sacrifice on performance, quality or aesthetics.” 

After conducting research, Eastman found that US consumers are more likely to purchase products with recycled content if they are assured they are not sacrificing quality, and that the sustainable solution helps to resolve the plastic waste crisis diverts waste from landfills. The company’s research also shows that consumers are looking for solutions to make recycling products easier and hold brands and retailers largely responsible for creating solutions.

Recycled and recyclable everywhere

The Cristal One series is a portfolio of recyclable resins that carries Resin Identification Code One (RIC1) as outlined by the ASTM International standards, which are set out by the organization previously known as American Society for Testing and Material. Application of these standards on products indicates they are compatible with the municipal recycle stream. Additionally, the resins range has received the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) recognition for meeting its Critical Guidance for compatibility with the PET stream. The Cristal One series is also available with certified recycled content for resins, with a robust beginning-of-life and end-of-life story.

“The need to make recycling easier for consumers was really the cornerstone that launched the Cristal One Series,” says Cary. “We wanted a way that consumers could tap into the existing municipal recycling infrastructure.”

Talking about the production process, Cary reveals: “Our scientists explained to us that what we were asking for - a material that could make thick-wall luxury packages in existing equipment and provide RIC1 recyclability - was a big challenge.”

Click to EnlargeEastman is combining recycled products with existing recycling capabilities. Source: Eastman.With the development of Cristal One, Eastman was able to tap into its history of innovation and knowledge of the beauty business to create a breakthrough technology. With Cristal One, Eastman was determined to bring to market a resin that lives up to the performance and aesthetics of the company’s existing copolyesters that are also recyclable within the existing municipal PET recycling stream. 

“Prior to the introduction of Cristal One, brands did not have the option of a resin for thick-walled luxury jars that was also recyclable,” states Cary. With its Advanced Circular Recycling technologies, Eastman is also able to offer Cristal One Renew, giving brands a RIC1 resin with high levels of certified recycled content.

Resin Identification Code, or RIC1 as it is often commonly referred, relates to packaging that is polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE). Cary stresses: “The biggest challenge was combining the luxury look our resins are known for with RIC1 recyclability. We felt it was critically important to meet all of the standards required to receive the RIC1 classification. This is why we felt it was critical to complete the full process to be recognized formally by the Association of Plastic Recyclers.” 

Eastman believes Cristal One is able to demonstrate strong value for brands across a wide variety of applications. “One of the most exciting options is to combine the recyclability of the product at the end of its life with certified recycled content,” shares Cary. “Eastman has the unique ability to make a material that is recyclable and also has up to 100% certified recycled content.”

Focusing on the future, Cary relays: “Eastman has committed to the complete sustainable transformation of its entire cosmetic portfolio of resins.” With its Cristal Renew, Tritan Renew and Cristal One collections, Eastman hopes to offer brands the quality and aesthetics they have come to expect from copolyesters, for a wide variety of applications and processing technologies, now with high levels of certified recycled content through the existing municipal PET recycle stream. 

“This gives brands options for meeting consumer needs for sustainable solutions, without sacrificing the beauty or performance of their iconic packaging,” highlights Cary.

By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe, BPC Insights Senior Journalist