FMCG giant Procter & Gamble has pledged to use materials made by Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies to reduce its use of virgin plastic from fossil fuels.
P&G will also collaborate with the specialty materials business on advocacy initiatives aimed at reducing the reliance on virgin plastic and enabling a circular economy.
Eastman’s Eastman Renew materials are made via molecular recycling technologies which use waste plastic that would otherwise go to landfill.
"Eliminating waste plastic from our environment is a complex global challenge that requires a comprehensive, collaborative approach across the entire plastics lifecycle," Lee Ellen Drechsler, Procter & Gamble Senior Vice President of R&D, commented.
"P&G is taking a thoughtful approach to addressing the collection, processing, revitalisation and reuse of materials.
"That’s why we selected Eastman's molecular recycling technologies which enable former waste to be transformed into useful products."
The companies will also collaborate on initiatives addressing the infrastructure needed to increase plastic recycling rates.
These efforts will complement the current recycling streams in the US, said Eastman, and expand the collection of hard-to-recycle plastics.
These expanded streams will be used to create new materials via Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies.
"Eastman is excited to have Procter & Gamble as a partner to put molecular recycling into practice," said Scott Ballard, Eastman's Division President of Plastics.
"Together, we can create value from waste and show the world what's possible through innovation.
"The value created will help drive the critical changes in our recycling infrastructure that are necessary to solve the plastic waste crisis."