Eastman chemical company has been selected by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to receive up to $375 million in funding for its second molecular recycling project in the U.S. The company also received significant state and tax incentives to support the project. 
 
The company has chosen its Longview, TX location for the second molecular recycling facility. This location already has available infrastructure, space, operations, favorable energy supply, access to feedstock pools in the central and western United States as well as space for onsite renewable energy. 
 
The company’s first molecular recycling plant was recently finished in Kingsport, TN with plans to invest in another plant in France. 
 
Eastman will use the DOE grant to create a polymer factory of virgin-quality materials for packaging and textiles. This will create over 200 full-time jobs in the Longview area as well as over 1,000 temporary construction jobs for the development of the site.
 
The Longview facility is expected to recycle roughly 110,000 metric tons of hard-to-recycle plastic waste. Company technology allows waste plastic to be transformed into virgin quality food contact polyesters with lower greenhouse gas emissions. Eastman has also been chosen by the DOE to expedite the demonstration of recycled PET with a low carbon density.
 
Eastman CEO and board chair, Mark Costa commented, “The plant will remove significant waste from the region, enable true circularity and set a new benchmark of decarbonization. We have decades of history successfully operating in Longview, and this will be a great investment for the local community.”
 
With the grant, Eastman also plans to assist in renovating a community center for workforce training and development and community outreach needs. 

Costa added, “The commitment helps us to further invest in the local community with a comprehensive community benefits plan. The support of these partners is a testament to our technology and the difference we can make for future generations.”

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