Page 18 - Plastics News April 2019

CompAny news

Eastman offers innovative ePac Flexible Packaging moves

recycling solution into Europe

as tman, a glo bal lorida-based flexible firm
Especialty materials FePac Flexible Packaging
company, has announced a is expanding into Europe,
breakthrough innovation to with its first manufacturing
address the world's plastic site scheduled to begin
waste problem. Eastman production in the United
innovation called carbon Kingdom in the second half
renewal technology, which of the year. The newly
is capable of recycling created ePac Holdings
some of the most complex Europe will manage the
plastic waste, including expansion, with the first manufacturing location slated
non-polyester plastics and mixed plastics that cannot be to be operational in the second half of 2019 in the
recycled with conventional recycling technologies. With UK. Jack Knott, ePac Flexible Packaging CEO said :
this new recycling technology, materials such as flexible ‘Our European operations will be based on the same
packaging and plastic films, among others, can be diverted business model we have developed in the US over the
from landfills.By modifying the front end of Eastman’s course of the past three years, where we have seen
cellulosics production, carbon renewal technology uses tremendous success.’ This announcement builds on 15
plastic waste as feedstock and converts it back to simple ePac locations previously announced in the US.ePac
and versatile molecular components. The process partially Holdings Europe will be managed by Johnny Hobeika.
oxidizes the plastic and, at a very high efficiency, converts ePac Flexible Packaging is a US-based specialist in fast
it into the basic building blocks of certain Eastman time to market, short and medium run length finished
products, including Advanced Materials and Fibers segment pouches and rollstock. ePac is the first company
products that serve ophthalmics, durables, packaging, based entirely on digital printing technology from HP,
textiles and nonwovens end-use markets. specifically the Indigo 20000 model.
Eastman has completed pilot tests at its Kingsport site and In line with the EU movement toward sustainability,
plans commercial production in 2019 by leveraging existing ePac offers recyclable film as an option. Digital printing
assets. This rapid success in developing a new recycling is far more eco-friendly than conventional printing
approach is a further example of how Eastman leverages processes since waste and process steps are eliminated
its scale and integration to provide sustainable solutions to and energy consumption is reduced. Additionally,
the world. Eastman is exploring commercial collaborations brands have the ability to order to demand so less
to yield mixed plastic waste to be recycled through carbon flexible packaging is kept in inventory and ultimately
renewal technology at commercial scale. Board Chair and discarded.Focused primarily on food manufacturers and
CEO Mark Costa said, "Eastman has the technology, the co-packers, ePac serves local, regional and national
innovation power and the people to make a difference. brands of all sizes with a unique service model geared to
Eastman is now uniquely positioned to deliver two shipment of finished pouches in three weeks or less, and
powerful innovation solutions that target different plastic rollstock in under 10 business days.All ePac locations
waste streams that pose complex challenges. Plastics are are full-service manufacturing plants with pre-press,
used in so many important ways. But because some don't digital printing, laminating, and pouch making
have good end-of-life solutions or are discarded, the world performed in-house. In line with the EU movement
is facing a problem of significant magnitude." “Eastman is toward sustainability, ePac offers recyclable film as
embracing its stated purpose of enhancing the quality of an option. Johnny Hobeika added “With the number of
life in a material way for people around the world,” Costa countries and languages in Europe, the advantages ePac
added. “This translates not only to producing superior will bring to brands will be game-changing. Multi-SKU
materials for the products that consumers use daily, but orders can be rapidly produced in the same print run
also contributes to a circular economy. without printing plates and minimal waste.”

Plastics News April 2019 18