Eastman's methanolysis facility in Tennessee receives ISO 59014 certification
Last update on May 21, 2026
Hard-to-recycle polyester waste – curbside collected plastic packaging and other materials that typically end up landfilled or incinerated – has long presented a structural gap in mechanical recycling systems. Eastman's methanolysis facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, targets this gap directly, and the site has now received ISO 59014 certification through SCS Global Services, valid through March 1, 2029, with annual surveillance audits to ensure traceability.
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Breaks polyester waste down to its molecular building blocks
The certification covers Eastman's material-to-material methanolysis recycling technology at the Kingsport facility. According to Eastman, the process breaks polyester waste down to its molecular building blocks – monomers that can be used to produce new materials with virgin-quality performance. The company states this approach complements mechanical recycling by expanding the range of material types that can be processed, supporting a more circular economy by keeping valuable materials in use longer.
ISO 59014:2024 establishes international principles, requirements, and guidance for sustainability and traceability in the recovery of secondary materials. The standard covers collection, sorting, classification, and other non-destructive recycling and recovery activities, with emphasis on transparent traceability, responsible resource management, and safe working conditions throughout the recycling process.
It applies to organizations of any size implementing systematic, circular-economy frameworks and excludes energy recovery and disposal. An audit to this standard provides confidence that the audited party is ensuring proper controls are in place to keep surrounding communities safe while engaging in steps to ensure material circularity.
Certification was conducted by SCS Global Services, described as a third-party leader in sustainability auditing and verification with more than 40 years of experience.
"Eastman's achievement reflects a serious, sustained commitment to circularity and responsible material recovery," said Veronica Vazquez, program director for ISO Integrated Management Systems at SCS Global Services. "We are proud to support their leadership in building recovery systems that are transparent, accountable, and grounded in lifecycle science."
"Achieving ISO 59014 certification is an important milestone for Eastman because it reinforces what our customers, communities and stakeholders expect when it comes to transparency, traceability and responsible practices across the recovery of secondary materials," said Sandeep Bangaru, vice president and general manager of Eastman's packaging and circular platform.
"At our Kingsport site, we're scaling material-to-material recycling technologies like methanolysis to break hard-to-recycle polyester waste down to its molecular building blocks so it can be made new again, supporting a more circular future without compromising performance. This independent certification recognizes the rigor behind our approach and helps build confidence in verified, accountable circular solutions."