Eastman Chemical to start PET depolymerization plant

Eastman Chemical has built a $250 million polyethylene terephthalate (PET) depolymerization plant at Kingsport, Tennessee, US. The plant will use methanolysis technology to break down 100,000 metric tons per year of postconsumer PET waste-from sources such as carpet fiber and PET packaging-into dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol. Eastman will use the output from the plant to make specialty polyesters. The plants is expected to begin operation from this summer.