Oct 24 2008
Eastman Chemical Company’s ParaStarTM resins are the most energy-efficient PET resins on the market, according to a just-completed Life Cycle Inventory (LCI).
“When we first launched the ParaStar™ family of PET resins, we said that the energy savings were impressive,” recalled T. J. Stevens, vice president and general manager of Eastman’s PET business. “Now we have the operational experience and third-party validation needed to quantify the magnitude of those savings.”
The comprehensive LCI, conducted by Franklin Associates, Ltd, demonstrates that Eastman’s patented IntegRexTM technology – used to make ParaStar™ PET resin – is substantially more energy efficient than conventional PET manufacturing processes.
“For brand owners and convertors looking for a measurable sustainability edge, recyclable ParaStar™ resin is the cost-effective choice for high-quality PET packages,” says Bill Wight, business manager, Eastman.
The LCI shows that energy used by the IntegRex™ technology process to convert raw materials to PET is 51% lower than the energy consumed in conventional processes. When combined with energy associated with the raw materials, the overall reduction in total energy is around 10% - a substantial reduction, considering that well over three-fourths of the total energy is tied to the raw materials themselves.
The many carbonated soft-drink and bottled water customers who use ParaStar™ PET resin also benefit from its heightened gloss, improved visual clarity, and the virtual elimination of acetaldehyde (AA), an unwanted flavor agent, in still water packages.
ParaStar™ resins are, of course, fully recyclable.
“This is just the latest example of Eastman innovation at work,” says Stevens. “We continue to deliver the real-world results in sustainability and value-adding product features that our customers demand.”
Eastman manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. It provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products; is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers; and produces PET polymers for packaging. As a Responsible Care® company, Eastman is committed to achieving the highest standards of health, safety, environmental and security performance. Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman is a FORTUNE 500 company with 2007 sales of $6.8 billion and approximately 10,500 employees.
IntegRex™ and ParaStar™ are trademarks of Eastman Chemical Company.