At CHINAPLAS Media Day, US’ Eastman Chemical Company emphasized the importance of engaging the whole value chain to create a win-win scenario.
The company as a whole posted a revenue of US$9.6 billion in 2015. One of its major products is Tritan copolyester, which offers high clarity, strong toughness, superior chemical resistance, ease of processing and design flexibility.
In addition to consumer durables, medical equipment components and construction, the material is widely applied in food contact products such as water bottles, baby bottles and housewares with the knowledge that it is free of Bisphenol A (BPA).
“Tritan has been winning acknowledgement in the past years, the secret of which lies in our continuous efforts to seek win-win cooperation with partners across the whole value chain, including designers, molders, distributors, brand owners, retailers, and even consumers,” said Randy S. Beavers, Regional Business Director, Asia Pacific and Global Sales Director of Eastman Specialty Plastics.
For example, Eastman has two design engineers in China responsible for communication with molders and OEMs with the aim of improving processing quality.
In the future, the company hopes to engage more closely with designers, brand owners and retailers to present the values of Tritan to end customers.
“Retailers might not know much about plastics , so we introduce to them the different characteristics of the materials, how they affect the product’s return rate and consumers’ impressions,” Beavers explained, as the material of choice makes a huge difference here.
US blender maker Ninja has nearly eliminated all product return after substituting styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) with Tritan copolyester. “They told me the return rate has dropped from 8-10% to a mere two units, not 2%” according to Beavers.
Consumers nowadays are more environmentally-conscious than ever, therefore it is essential that the material provides a healthier and more eco-friendly lifestyle. In this regard, Eastman has entered into a strategic cooperation with Chinese home appliance brand Midea, who will use the Tritan trade mark in small appliances.
“China’s 13th Five-Year Plan will stimulate a new round of consumption and industrial upgrade. A strong pursuit of better living standard among the public will drive the demand for Tritan. We will keep on working with partners along the value chain and promoting China’s consumption and industrial upgrade in joint efforts,” Beavers concluded.
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