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Eastman ranked in Top 25 in Fortune’s “Change the World” list

Kingsport, Tenn. – Eastman is ranked No. 21 in Fortune magazine’s 2021 Change the World list, which spotlights companies that have a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy.

Fortune identified Eastman as a company that is changing the world through advanced recycling technologies that process hard-to-recycle plastics and reduce the company’s carbon footprint. Eastman has committed to recycle more than 250 million pounds of plastic waste annually by 2025 and more than 500 million pounds annually by 2030.

Within the home textiles market, the company’s Naia Renew cellulosic fiber is produced with a low carbon footprint in a closed-loop process where solvents are safely recycled back into the system for reuse.

The fiber is produced from wood pulp sourced from certified forests, and the recycled carpet waste feedstock is generated via Eastman’s patented carbon renewal technology (CRT). CRT is an integrated, molecular recycling technology that breaks down waste plastics, such as post-consumer carpet fiber and plastic packaging materials into basic molecular building blocks for the manufacture of new products including fibers– a truly circular solution creating value from waste.

“We’re pleased to be recognized by Fortune with an award that gets right to the heart of our purpose at Eastman,” said Mark Costa, board chair and CEO. “We’re committed to innovation that reduces material waste and preserves our planet while delivering sustainable solutions that enhance the quality of life for people around the world.”

Fortune writers and editors evaluated companies on four factors. In addition to measurable social impact, Fortune considered business results, degree of innovation, and corporate integration. Fortune staffers determine the list with help from Shared Value Initiative, a global community of leaders who find business solutions for societal challenges. This is the seventh year of the Change the World list.