The certification, valid through March 2029, covers Eastman’s material-to-material methanolysis recycling technology and was carried out by SCS Global Services.
Eastman’s Kingsport, Tennessee facility has received ISO 59014 certification through SCS Global Services for its methanolysis recycling technology, the company introduced. The certification is valid through March 1, 2029, with annual surveillance audits.
ISO 59014:2024 establishes international demand for traceability and responsible recovery of secondary materials, overlaying collection, sorting, classification and non-destructive recycling activities. As per Eastman, the certification covers its material-to-material methanolysis process, which breaks down hard-to-recycle polyester waste, which includes curbside-collected plastic packaging, into molecular building blocks that may be reutilized to manufacture new materials with virgin-quality performance.
“Achieving ISO 59014 certification is an essential milestone for Eastman as it strengthen what our clients, communities and stakeholders anticipate when it comes to transparency, traceability and responsible practices across the recovery of secondary materials,” Sandeep Bangaru, vice president and general manager of Eastman’s Packaging and Circular Platform, said in a statement. “This independent certification identifies the rigor behind our strategy and support build confidence in proven, accountable circular solutions.”
As per Eastman, the company’s methanolysis process complements mechanical recycling by processing polyester materials which might be hard to recycle mechanically. The commercial-scale methanolysis facility at Kingsport manufactures its first recycled monomer product in March 2024.
The Kingsport facility and its recycling operations were currently the subject of an on-site report by Chemical Processing’s Jonathan Katz, who toured the 900-acre complex throughout the eChem Conference and Expo in April. The report offered a firsthand look at the scale of the Kingsport operations, which include its methanolysis pilot plant and commercial facility, as well as the site’s broader production infrastructure and its deep ties to the surrounding community.
