Tag: 3BL

Expand aerospace and defense connectivity by moving from a terrestrial to hybrid space / ground network with virtual simulation, emulation, and digital twin technology.

To heighten communications capabilities and improve situational awareness, military and government agencies increasingly leverage commercially developed technologies. Many plan to boost their connectivity capabilities with fifth generation (5G) non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). An NTN is a hybrid network, applying satellite communication (SATCOM) technology to extend existing 5G technology. 5G NTNs draw many features from 5G terrestrial networks and face many of the same challenges, adding higher reliability expectations for 5G NTN service compared to earlier SATCOM networks. To help assure performance of 5G NTN deployments, virtual simulation, emulation, and digital twin technology use RF system measurement science to deliver results beyond what is possible through physical testing alone.

Despite the hype over the commercial possibilities of 5G NTN, it also promises to transform capabilities for aerospace and defense. Potential 5G NTN use cases for military and government include coverage for forward battlefields or focused special operations. NTNs also will provide coverage to restore communications in disaster areas experiencing widespread infrastructure outages. Among transportation use cases, NTNs support logistic in-transit tracking for long-haul trucking routes, rail lines, and maritime shipping lanes.

Five Challenges Facing NTN

More Data, Crowded Spectrum

The hybrid 5G NTN provides obvious advantages as well as challenges. Handheld or vehicle-based user equipment (UE) tends to demand high volumes of data for video and mapping services. Additionally, sensor applications may connect user equipment with lower data rates. Delivering the required volumes of data means leveraging 5G signaling fundamentals for 5G NTN, including mmWave carrier frequencies and complex modulation in wide bandwidths. 5G spectrum is already tightly allocated in terrestrial networks, and an onslaught of tens of thousands of lower earth orbit (LEO) satellites and geostationary earth orbit (GEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), and high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) platforms soon operating in 5G NTNs will add to the spectrum crowding.

The Space Environment

Space is the foremost challenge for NTNs. Once deployed, equipment is inaccessible. In addition, systems must operate in an extremely harsh environment with extreme temperatures and radiation. For successful performance, systems also need to provide consistent power generation and storage. For all of these aspects, satellite system providers need to balance risk versus cost across the lifetime of the operation.

Size, Weight, Power, and Cost

Another concern is the physical limits of placing high-frequency RF and computing resources in the sky. Size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) become issues when moving away from the GEO 20 tonners into more compact LEO satellites and HAPS platforms, and payloads must transform accordingly. On the plus side, placing more satellites into service with smaller payloads and shorter life cycles is now feasible and cost-effective. A 5G NTN might consist of a group of satellites working together in various orbits.

Connecting in Motion

5G NTNs put some things, or perhaps everything in the network, in constant motion. Satellite and HAPS movements factor into connection setup, signal quality, and handovers. gNodeB instances and parts of the RAN flying aloft add to the movement of any UE at the surface. Parameters previously fixed or confined in a small range in a 5G terrestrial network suddenly become wide-ranging variables in a 5G NTN. Tracking areas, bulk delays, Doppler shifts, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), and more elements take on dynamic characteristics.

The Payload Question

The introduction of 5G NTNs disrupts the traditional 5G terrestrial network architecture and opens up a paradigm shift in connectivity. Many alternatives exist for satellites and HAPS participating in gNodeB and RAN domains, some with multiple satellites in the chain scattered across miles of sky. The choice between transparent or regenerative payloads can completely change how the network organizes and the resulting signal routing. With LEO satellites in motion, remember that all timing relationships are dynamic. At stake is the quality of service (QoS) user experience, primarily due to variable delays and complex handovers that can result in dropped connections.

Platform kinematics rapidly alter 5G NTN channel behavior, and staging fast-moving platforms in the proper orientation long enough to gather detailed physical measurements is not an option. However, simulations can account for complex orbital paths and decompose real-time motion into precise detail with time-correlated analysis.

Advancing the Next NTN Wave

Accurate multi-domain simulation of a 5G NTN link depends on four elements: an authentic representation of complex digital modulation in a 5G waveform with real-world effects, a complete model of satellite kinematics, robust modeling of RF system signal processing, and a time-correlated view of 5G protocol decoding. The critical goal is validating performance in a simulation before deployment of orbital hardware. Find out how developers embracing 5G NTN model-based engineering approaches get their systems off the ground faster with less risk by reading our white paper, RF System Measurement Science Launches 5G NTNs.

Expand aerospace and defense connectivity by moving from a terrestrial to hybrid space / ground network with virtual simulation, emulation, and digital twin technology.

To heighten communications capabilities and improve situational awareness, military and government agencies increasingly leverage commercially developed technologies. Many plan to boost their connectivity capabilities with fifth generation (5G) non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). An NTN is a hybrid network, applying satellite communication (SATCOM) technology to extend existing 5G technology. 5G NTNs draw many features from 5G terrestrial networks and face many of the same challenges, adding higher reliability expectations for 5G NTN service compared to earlier SATCOM networks. To help assure performance of 5G NTN deployments, virtual simulation, emulation, and digital twin technology use RF system measurement science to deliver results beyond what is possible through physical testing alone.

Despite the hype over the commercial possibilities of 5G NTN, it also promises to transform capabilities for aerospace and defense. Potential 5G NTN use cases for military and government include coverage for forward battlefields or focused special operations. NTNs also will provide coverage to restore communications in disaster areas experiencing widespread infrastructure outages. Among transportation use cases, NTNs support logistic in-transit tracking for long-haul trucking routes, rail lines, and maritime shipping lanes.

Five Challenges Facing NTN

More Data, Crowded Spectrum

The hybrid 5G NTN provides obvious advantages as well as challenges. Handheld or vehicle-based user equipment (UE) tends to demand high volumes of data for video and mapping services. Additionally, sensor applications may connect user equipment with lower data rates. Delivering the required volumes of data means leveraging 5G signaling fundamentals for 5G NTN, including mmWave carrier frequencies and complex modulation in wide bandwidths. 5G spectrum is already tightly allocated in terrestrial networks, and an onslaught of tens of thousands of lower earth orbit (LEO) satellites and geostationary earth orbit (GEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), and high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) platforms soon operating in 5G NTNs will add to the spectrum crowding.

The Space Environment

Space is the foremost challenge for NTNs. Once deployed, equipment is inaccessible. In addition, systems must operate in an extremely harsh environment with extreme temperatures and radiation. For successful performance, systems also need to provide consistent power generation and storage. For all of these aspects, satellite system providers need to balance risk versus cost across the lifetime of the operation.

Size, Weight, Power, and Cost

Another concern is the physical limits of placing high-frequency RF and computing resources in the sky. Size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) become issues when moving away from the GEO 20 tonners into more compact LEO satellites and HAPS platforms, and payloads must transform accordingly. On the plus side, placing more satellites into service with smaller payloads and shorter life cycles is now feasible and cost-effective. A 5G NTN might consist of a group of satellites working together in various orbits.

Connecting in Motion

5G NTNs put some things, or perhaps everything in the network, in constant motion. Satellite and HAPS movements factor into connection setup, signal quality, and handovers. gNodeB instances and parts of the RAN flying aloft add to the movement of any UE at the surface. Parameters previously fixed or confined in a small range in a 5G terrestrial network suddenly become wide-ranging variables in a 5G NTN. Tracking areas, bulk delays, Doppler shifts, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), and more elements take on dynamic characteristics.

The Payload Question

The introduction of 5G NTNs disrupts the traditional 5G terrestrial network architecture and opens up a paradigm shift in connectivity. Many alternatives exist for satellites and HAPS participating in gNodeB and RAN domains, some with multiple satellites in the chain scattered across miles of sky. The choice between transparent or regenerative payloads can completely change how the network organizes and the resulting signal routing. With LEO satellites in motion, remember that all timing relationships are dynamic. At stake is the quality of service (QoS) user experience, primarily due to variable delays and complex handovers that can result in dropped connections.

Platform kinematics rapidly alter 5G NTN channel behavior, and staging fast-moving platforms in the proper orientation long enough to gather detailed physical measurements is not an option. However, simulations can account for complex orbital paths and decompose real-time motion into precise detail with time-correlated analysis.

Advancing the Next NTN Wave

Accurate multi-domain simulation of a 5G NTN link depends on four elements: an authentic representation of complex digital modulation in a 5G waveform with real-world effects, a complete model of satellite kinematics, robust modeling of RF system signal processing, and a time-correlated view of 5G protocol decoding. The critical goal is validating performance in a simulation before deployment of orbital hardware. Find out how developers embracing 5G NTN model-based engineering approaches get their systems off the ground faster with less risk by reading our white paper, RF System Measurement Science Launches 5G NTNs.

While most of us take the opportunity benefits of our access to the internet and the devices that connect to it for granted, there are people in our community who lack those advantages completely. These individuals and families may not own a computing device or, if they do, they may not have access to high-speed internet that so many daily tasks in our lives require. These people can’t fully participate in the digital economy at the highest level. Being on the wrong side of the digital divide, they also miss other significant opportunities and face setbacks as a result.

On April 10, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) will bring stakeholders currently working on related projects together to address this critical societal challenge. We have one goal in co-hosting Together Toward Inclusion: A Digital Equity Stakeholder Summit: to find ways we can jointly advance equitable digital inclusion on the path toward true and lasting digital equity.

Equitable digital inclusion is a start toward achieving the conditions for what TCS Corporate Social Responsibility leaders consider their North Star: digital equity. It makes people’s lives easier and positions them for greater contributions to their households and the economy. It also gives them a chance to take control of their physical and financial wellness.

The reason for the TCS-CECP convening is clear. In an evolving global landscape full of technological change, the evolution of digital skills is a top priority. Businesses and the skills-development companies serving them know this well. Large employers invest in getting the right technologies in place so they can succeed in their markets and with their stakeholders, shareholders and analysts. They also invest in skilling their employees in ways that will support these efforts. For businesses, it’s a matter of daily practice.

But what about those who could fall further behind as technology advances?

Among other things, achieving digital equity depends on access to adequate and affordable internet service, the availability of affordable devices and accessibility features for those who are differently abled. Once these basics are in place, skills take the spotlight as an ongoing concern. In a world where tech advances are fast and furious, people must constantly develop their digital literacy. Digital access and skills, or the lack thereof, have implications for job and wealth creation, access to health and education, and areas of life such as financial and civic inclusion. In other words, it is critical.

TCS believes that considerable progress can be made in all of these areas, bringing us closer to equality for people of all genders, races, and socio-economic levels of society. To get there, stakeholders must work collaboratively to eliminate technological barriers to learning, job acquisition, civic engagement and health care. That means taking on the largest challenges now and putting the same energy into a lasting commitment to stay on top of advances in technology.

Every time technology advances, somebody’s currently high-level digital skill set runs the risk of quickly becoming obsolete, putting people at risk of being left behind. For example, limited AI literacy could restrict people from participating in health pursuits, succeeding at work or confuse them when trying to find accurate information on which to base their purchasing, banking or civic-engagement decisions.

The path to digital equity is far more than any one business, government or NGO can undertake alone, but collaboration itself can encourage optimism. We’re inviting digital equity stakeholders currently working on digital equity, as well as those who want to engage in this important work, to attend our half-day summit on April 10. I hope you’ll join us. Working “Together Toward Inclusion” can bring efficiency, innovation and effective frameworks for collective action. It can change the world.

Learn more and register here.

Katie Levey, of Tata Consultancy Services, is the global program director of Digital Empowers, TCS’ social impact thought leadership program. Digital Empowers coordinates meaningful convenings of stakeholders interested in technology’s impact on sustainable development.

While most of us take the opportunity benefits of our access to the internet and the devices that connect to it for granted, there are people in our community who lack those advantages completely. These individuals and families may not own a computing device or, if they do, they may not have access to high-speed internet that so many daily tasks in our lives require. These people can’t fully participate in the digital economy at the highest level. Being on the wrong side of the digital divide, they also miss other significant opportunities and face setbacks as a result.

On April 10, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) will bring stakeholders currently working on related projects together to address this critical societal challenge. We have one goal in co-hosting Together Toward Inclusion: A Digital Equity Stakeholder Summit: to find ways we can jointly advance equitable digital inclusion on the path toward true and lasting digital equity.

Equitable digital inclusion is a start toward achieving the conditions for what TCS Corporate Social Responsibility leaders consider their North Star: digital equity. It makes people’s lives easier and positions them for greater contributions to their households and the economy. It also gives them a chance to take control of their physical and financial wellness.

The reason for the TCS-CECP convening is clear. In an evolving global landscape full of technological change, the evolution of digital skills is a top priority. Businesses and the skills-development companies serving them know this well. Large employers invest in getting the right technologies in place so they can succeed in their markets and with their stakeholders, shareholders and analysts. They also invest in skilling their employees in ways that will support these efforts. For businesses, it’s a matter of daily practice.

But what about those who could fall further behind as technology advances?

Among other things, achieving digital equity depends on access to adequate and affordable internet service, the availability of affordable devices and accessibility features for those who are differently abled. Once these basics are in place, skills take the spotlight as an ongoing concern. In a world where tech advances are fast and furious, people must constantly develop their digital literacy. Digital access and skills, or the lack thereof, have implications for job and wealth creation, access to health and education, and areas of life such as financial and civic inclusion. In other words, it is critical.

TCS believes that considerable progress can be made in all of these areas, bringing us closer to equality for people of all genders, races, and socio-economic levels of society. To get there, stakeholders must work collaboratively to eliminate technological barriers to learning, job acquisition, civic engagement and health care. That means taking on the largest challenges now and putting the same energy into a lasting commitment to stay on top of advances in technology.

Every time technology advances, somebody’s currently high-level digital skill set runs the risk of quickly becoming obsolete, putting people at risk of being left behind. For example, limited AI literacy could restrict people from participating in health pursuits, succeeding at work or confuse them when trying to find accurate information on which to base their purchasing, banking or civic-engagement decisions.

The path to digital equity is far more than any one business, government or NGO can undertake alone, but collaboration itself can encourage optimism. We’re inviting digital equity stakeholders currently working on digital equity, as well as those who want to engage in this important work, to attend our half-day summit on April 10. I hope you’ll join us. Working “Together Toward Inclusion” can bring efficiency, innovation and effective frameworks for collective action. It can change the world.

Learn more and register here.

Katie Levey, of Tata Consultancy Services, is the global program director of Digital Empowers, TCS’ social impact thought leadership program. Digital Empowers coordinates meaningful convenings of stakeholders interested in technology’s impact on sustainable development.

Eastman

Defining the plastic waste problem

Imagine all the items you’ve bought, used and discarded in your lifetime. How much space would they take up? What about the items discarded by your neighbors, friends and family? From cars to toys to electronics, appliances, textiles, building materials, packaging, household goods and decorations, we buy, use and discard a lot of things — many made with plastic.

And because we can place them in a trash bin or drop them at a dump, and they seem to disappear, we might not give much thought to their journey after that. Unfortunately, most will end up in a landfill, doomed forever to be “trash” or “waste” — a concept that is foreign to the natural world. And humans make so much of this waste that we are running out of landfill space around the world.

What if we could turn our old, discarded, no-longer-useful plastic into new things?

We would reduce our strain on natural resources and avoid digging giant holes and using our land to bury waste. We would reduce pollution and chemicals leaching into local environments. We would reclaim and repurpose valuable materials and reduce our carbon footprint.

Reducing our waste in these ways would do us a lot of good.

But how?

The change needed for material circularity

To change our waste story, we need to adopt a circular mindset. Our perception of what end of life means for plastic needs to change. Instead of seeing the plastic we’ve used as mere waste, we should recognize its inherent value and reuse it accordingly. Molecular recycling technologies allow us to unlock this value.

The potential of molecular recycling of plastic is immense. By embracing it, we can reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, mitigate the prevalence of plastic waste in our environments and landfills, create value for end-of-life plastics, and transform existing plastic back into molecular building blocks for future products. This transition would create a circular economy, reducing our dependence on natural resources and minimizing our negative impact.

Right now, mechanical recycling is the dominant method for recycling plastic, but it’s limited to certain types of plastic. Others that aren’t recycled or landfilled may be burned for fuel. Mechanical recycling has the lowest carbon footprint and is the most cost-effective and efficient recycling option. Wherever possible, this is the best solution.

But mechanical recycling has limitations, starting with the very narrow range of simple plastics it can process, such as clear plastic water bottles and clear gallon milk jugs. Also, plastics that are mechanically recycled degrade each time they’re processed until they can’t be mechanically recycled anymore. Mechanical recycling is finite. Molecular recycling is infinite because the plastics do not degrade, no matter how many times they’re processed. And the vast types and amounts of plastic items that cannot be mechanically recycled — colored plastic bottles, eyeglass frames, food containers and polyester carpet are just a few — can be processed by molecular recycling.

To achieve true material circularity, we need material-to-material molecular recycling. To create a circular economy, we need to invest in better access, collection and sorting within the mechanical recycling system. We also need to build an infrastructure that supports molecular recycling to revolutionize materials.

The complexity of advanced recycling

The phrase “advanced recycling” doesn’t really tell us much about the process. The general term covers any technology that transforms waste to be used again and isn’t traditional mechanical recycling. Technologies that some characterize as advanced recycling might in fact be transforming waste materials into fuel. We would argue that these technologies should not be characterized as recycling.

However, there are other technologies that are truly circular and produce building blocks identical to those produced from fossil resources, so they can then be used to make new high-performance materials. This is referred to as material-to-material recycling and is preferred. It keeps existing materials in use, reducing our need to create more from fossil resources. It’s also what we mean when we refer to Eastman molecular recycling.

But even within material-to-material molecular recycling, there are a range of technologies with varying environmental benefits or consequences. The most sustainable processes can repurpose an extremely high percentage of the processed waste with very little yield loss. They use the least amount of hazardous chemicals and have lower carbon emissions while producing useful feedstock from waste.

We know consumers are looking for recycled content. And that means businesses are looking for recycled materials. So why aren’t we doing more material-to-material molecular recycling?

The problem is most of these recycling technologies are relatively new. Recycling technologies and facilities are expensive and take time to build. With failing perception of recycling and confusion around accepted materials, more and more people are giving up on putting plastic in their recycling bins. Mechanical recycling, which our current infrastructure is built for, accepts limited types of plastics. And the range of accepted plastics varies by municipality.

One advantage of Eastman molecular recycling is that it recycles a wide range of materials that cannot be mechanically recycled. These technologies provide a means to recycle not just more plastic but more types of plastic — meaning less ends up in landfills.

This is the promise of molecular recycling. The challenge is that we don’t have a clear and consistent approach to collecting and recycling more plastics. To activate material circularity through molecular recycling, we need to aggressively pursue:

Design for recyclabilityImproved access to recycling for a majority of householdsInfrastructure for collecting and sorting waste and transporting it to proper recycling facilitiesMolecular recycling facilities that operate at scalePolicies that enable the development of effective recycling technologies

What’s Eastman doing for a circular economy?

We’re working closely with waste management companies to create new feedstock streams. We’re also supporting take-back programs and collection efforts. That includes The Recycling Partnership’s PET Recycling Coalition, which offers grants to fund viable research, infrastructure and knowledge sharing to help capture more PET waste for recycling. We’re engaging in meaningful partnerships that are critical for scaling the circular economy.

Beyond that, we’re making significant investments in facilities that can implement molecular recycling and turn hard-to-recycle plastic waste into feedstock for new materials and products.

We’ve developed two technologies that can greatly expand plastic recycling: polyester renewal technology (PRT) and carbon renewal technology (CRT). These technologies complement mechanical recycling by accepting a wider range of plastics like those prevalent in plastic packaging, other single-use plastics, textiles and more. Our PRT facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, is nearing completion, and we’re targeting the facility to be operational by the end of 2023. It will be one of the largest material-to-material recycling facilities in the world, processing 110,000 metric tonnes of polyester waste annually and producing high-quality, new products that perform just like virgin materials.

We’ve also announced a similar PRT recycling facility in France. A partnership with Interzero will supply 20,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste to our facility to be turned into first-quality feedstock. When operational (expected by 2026), the first phase of the facility will be able to recycle 110,000 metric tonnes annually, with that growing to over 200,000 metric tonnes with the completion of the second phase.

With many companies looking for recycled content, these innovative and invaluable technologies can turn would-be waste into valuable materials and drive the circular economy forward.

A circular economy not only supports a more responsible approach to materials and business but also has countless positive impacts for society. Keep reading  to learn how molecular recycling contributes to a circular economy and how circularity can improve the quality of life for billions around the world.

Eastman

Defining the plastic waste problem

Imagine all the items you’ve bought, used and discarded in your lifetime. How much space would they take up? What about the items discarded by your neighbors, friends and family? From cars to toys to electronics, appliances, textiles, building materials, packaging, household goods and decorations, we buy, use and discard a lot of things — many made with plastic.

And because we can place them in a trash bin or drop them at a dump, and they seem to disappear, we might not give much thought to their journey after that. Unfortunately, most will end up in a landfill, doomed forever to be “trash” or “waste” — a concept that is foreign to the natural world. And humans make so much of this waste that we are running out of landfill space around the world.

What if we could turn our old, discarded, no-longer-useful plastic into new things?

We would reduce our strain on natural resources and avoid digging giant holes and using our land to bury waste. We would reduce pollution and chemicals leaching into local environments. We would reclaim and repurpose valuable materials and reduce our carbon footprint.

Reducing our waste in these ways would do us a lot of good.

But how?

The change needed for material circularity

To change our waste story, we need to adopt a circular mindset. Our perception of what end of life means for plastic needs to change. Instead of seeing the plastic we’ve used as mere waste, we should recognize its inherent value and reuse it accordingly. Molecular recycling technologies allow us to unlock this value.

The potential of molecular recycling of plastic is immense. By embracing it, we can reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, mitigate the prevalence of plastic waste in our environments and landfills, create value for end-of-life plastics, and transform existing plastic back into molecular building blocks for future products. This transition would create a circular economy, reducing our dependence on natural resources and minimizing our negative impact.

Right now, mechanical recycling is the dominant method for recycling plastic, but it’s limited to certain types of plastic. Others that aren’t recycled or landfilled may be burned for fuel. Mechanical recycling has the lowest carbon footprint and is the most cost-effective and efficient recycling option. Wherever possible, this is the best solution.

But mechanical recycling has limitations, starting with the very narrow range of simple plastics it can process, such as clear plastic water bottles and clear gallon milk jugs. Also, plastics that are mechanically recycled degrade each time they’re processed until they can’t be mechanically recycled anymore. Mechanical recycling is finite. Molecular recycling is infinite because the plastics do not degrade, no matter how many times they’re processed. And the vast types and amounts of plastic items that cannot be mechanically recycled — colored plastic bottles, eyeglass frames, food containers and polyester carpet are just a few — can be processed by molecular recycling.

To achieve true material circularity, we need material-to-material molecular recycling. To create a circular economy, we need to invest in better access, collection and sorting within the mechanical recycling system. We also need to build an infrastructure that supports molecular recycling to revolutionize materials.

The complexity of advanced recycling

The phrase “advanced recycling” doesn’t really tell us much about the process. The general term covers any technology that transforms waste to be used again and isn’t traditional mechanical recycling. Technologies that some characterize as advanced recycling might in fact be transforming waste materials into fuel. We would argue that these technologies should not be characterized as recycling.

However, there are other technologies that are truly circular and produce building blocks identical to those produced from fossil resources, so they can then be used to make new high-performance materials. This is referred to as material-to-material recycling and is preferred. It keeps existing materials in use, reducing our need to create more from fossil resources. It’s also what we mean when we refer to Eastman molecular recycling.

But even within material-to-material molecular recycling, there are a range of technologies with varying environmental benefits or consequences. The most sustainable processes can repurpose an extremely high percentage of the processed waste with very little yield loss. They use the least amount of hazardous chemicals and have lower carbon emissions while producing useful feedstock from waste.

We know consumers are looking for recycled content. And that means businesses are looking for recycled materials. So why aren’t we doing more material-to-material molecular recycling?

The problem is most of these recycling technologies are relatively new. Recycling technologies and facilities are expensive and take time to build. With failing perception of recycling and confusion around accepted materials, more and more people are giving up on putting plastic in their recycling bins. Mechanical recycling, which our current infrastructure is built for, accepts limited types of plastics. And the range of accepted plastics varies by municipality.

One advantage of Eastman molecular recycling is that it recycles a wide range of materials that cannot be mechanically recycled. These technologies provide a means to recycle not just more plastic but more types of plastic — meaning less ends up in landfills.

This is the promise of molecular recycling. The challenge is that we don’t have a clear and consistent approach to collecting and recycling more plastics. To activate material circularity through molecular recycling, we need to aggressively pursue:

Design for recyclabilityImproved access to recycling for a majority of householdsInfrastructure for collecting and sorting waste and transporting it to proper recycling facilitiesMolecular recycling facilities that operate at scalePolicies that enable the development of effective recycling technologies

What’s Eastman doing for a circular economy?

We’re working closely with waste management companies to create new feedstock streams. We’re also supporting take-back programs and collection efforts. That includes The Recycling Partnership’s PET Recycling Coalition, which offers grants to fund viable research, infrastructure and knowledge sharing to help capture more PET waste for recycling. We’re engaging in meaningful partnerships that are critical for scaling the circular economy.

Beyond that, we’re making significant investments in facilities that can implement molecular recycling and turn hard-to-recycle plastic waste into feedstock for new materials and products.

We’ve developed two technologies that can greatly expand plastic recycling: polyester renewal technology (PRT) and carbon renewal technology (CRT). These technologies complement mechanical recycling by accepting a wider range of plastics like those prevalent in plastic packaging, other single-use plastics, textiles and more. Our PRT facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, is nearing completion, and we’re targeting the facility to be operational by the end of 2023. It will be one of the largest material-to-material recycling facilities in the world, processing 110,000 metric tonnes of polyester waste annually and producing high-quality, new products that perform just like virgin materials.

We’ve also announced a similar PRT recycling facility in France. A partnership with Interzero will supply 20,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste to our facility to be turned into first-quality feedstock. When operational (expected by 2026), the first phase of the facility will be able to recycle 110,000 metric tonnes annually, with that growing to over 200,000 metric tonnes with the completion of the second phase.

With many companies looking for recycled content, these innovative and invaluable technologies can turn would-be waste into valuable materials and drive the circular economy forward.

A circular economy not only supports a more responsible approach to materials and business but also has countless positive impacts for society. Keep reading  to learn how molecular recycling contributes to a circular economy and how circularity can improve the quality of life for billions around the world.

Maximus’ Corporate Communications team is finding ways to embody the company’s values of compassion and collaboration through its Communications for Good project in partnership with the Maximus Foundation. “This initiative aligns with the Foundation’s goals to build transformational partnerships by providing our nonprofit partners support beyond the grant,” said Arvenita Washington Cherry, Ph.D., Maximus Foundation President and Chairperson and Vice-President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “We are grateful and hope this will inspire similar skills-based volunteerism across the business.”

This initiative harnesses the expertise of the Corporate Communications team to provide support, guidance, and communications services to Maximus Foundation grantees. FACETS, an outreach program that has cared for children and families in Fairfax County, Virginia, since 1988, is the first organization to participate in the team’s Communications for Good project.

“I had a desire to find meaningful ways for my team to contribute to the organizations supported by the Maximus Foundation. Communications for Good is not just about offering our expertise; it’s a heartfelt commitment to the communities where we live and work where we can make a tangible difference,” said Jared Curtis, Director of Corporate Communications.

Jerry Caruso, Senior Vice President of Tax Management, is a Maximus Foundation donor and serves as a FACETS board member.

“I thought it was an exceptional concept to assist organizations that would benefit from the expertise of the Corporate Communications team,” he said. “This project is a unique opportunity for FACETS to tap into a program that helps expand their communications toolkit. The Communications for Good program is evidence of the impact an organization such as Maximus can have on a community by partnering with organizations who may not have access to the type of resources we have.”

The team met with FACETS during their on-site team meeting on February 8. FACETS employees explained their communications needs, which included social media engagement, public awareness, and storytelling to highlight programs and employees. The Maximus team’s 13 employees offered expertise on topics including social and digital media, writing and editing, strategy, and marketing. As part of this program, the team will work with FACETS to provide agency-style services free of charge.

Tessa Robinette, FACETS Resource Development Manager, said the FACETS team was thankful for the communications support.

“Our resources and capacity are often so stretched that it is difficult to find the time to develop or execute a communications strategy with the intention to detail and innovation it deserves,” she said. “It is incredible to be receiving extra support from professionals in the field. With it being a large and experienced team, we were looking forward to how they could advise us.”

The FACETS team was looking for outside perspective and analysis of their communications plan for some of their upcoming events and insight on the new website and branding they planned to launch this year, Tessa said. Corporate Communications also provided some existing materials to assist with FACETS’ rebranding and content creation processes.

“They were able to provide specific fine-tuning and executive advice for each step of the proposed plans,” Tessa explained. This included social media support, internal and external communications support, and guidance for an effective brand rollout and storytelling.

With a comprehensive look at FACETS’ current and future strategies, the team walked away with a new point of view, excited to implement recommendations and tools the Corporate Communications team provided, said Katie Davenport, FACETS Chief of Staff.

“The FACETS team left there so refreshed and ready to use some of the tools that were shared,” she said. “I’m not only energized about the recommendations but also validated on some of the pain points we get hung up on as a small team.”

Robinette agreed, adding that the team’s outside perspective was “the most valuable aspect of this initiative.

“The team at Maximus was incredibly eager to delve into what we already had going on and offer changes to improve effectiveness,” Robinette said. “Working with Maximus thus far has been such a pleasure and we have already begun using a couple of their suggestions.”

This project is a collaborative effort between the team, partner organizations, and the Maximus Foundation, Curtis added. Each employee is encouraged to volunteer their time and leverage their expertise.

“In addition to giving their time, the team can provide insight, recommendations, and support to address the specific communications needs of these organizations,” he said. “Our hope is through this program, we can help empower these organizations to effectively convey their mission, amplify their impact, and encourage more support in the community.”

Maximus’ Corporate Communications team is finding ways to embody the company’s values of compassion and collaboration through its Communications for Good project in partnership with the Maximus Foundation. “This initiative aligns with the Foundation’s goals to build transformational partnerships by providing our nonprofit partners support beyond the grant,” said Arvenita Washington Cherry, Ph.D., Maximus Foundation President and Chairperson and Vice-President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “We are grateful and hope this will inspire similar skills-based volunteerism across the business.”

This initiative harnesses the expertise of the Corporate Communications team to provide support, guidance, and communications services to Maximus Foundation grantees. FACETS, an outreach program that has cared for children and families in Fairfax County, Virginia, since 1988, is the first organization to participate in the team’s Communications for Good project.

“I had a desire to find meaningful ways for my team to contribute to the organizations supported by the Maximus Foundation. Communications for Good is not just about offering our expertise; it’s a heartfelt commitment to the communities where we live and work where we can make a tangible difference,” said Jared Curtis, Director of Corporate Communications.

Jerry Caruso, Senior Vice President of Tax Management, is a Maximus Foundation donor and serves as a FACETS board member.

“I thought it was an exceptional concept to assist organizations that would benefit from the expertise of the Corporate Communications team,” he said. “This project is a unique opportunity for FACETS to tap into a program that helps expand their communications toolkit. The Communications for Good program is evidence of the impact an organization such as Maximus can have on a community by partnering with organizations who may not have access to the type of resources we have.”

The team met with FACETS during their on-site team meeting on February 8. FACETS employees explained their communications needs, which included social media engagement, public awareness, and storytelling to highlight programs and employees. The Maximus team’s 13 employees offered expertise on topics including social and digital media, writing and editing, strategy, and marketing. As part of this program, the team will work with FACETS to provide agency-style services free of charge.

Tessa Robinette, FACETS Resource Development Manager, said the FACETS team was thankful for the communications support.

“Our resources and capacity are often so stretched that it is difficult to find the time to develop or execute a communications strategy with the intention to detail and innovation it deserves,” she said. “It is incredible to be receiving extra support from professionals in the field. With it being a large and experienced team, we were looking forward to how they could advise us.”

The FACETS team was looking for outside perspective and analysis of their communications plan for some of their upcoming events and insight on the new website and branding they planned to launch this year, Tessa said. Corporate Communications also provided some existing materials to assist with FACETS’ rebranding and content creation processes.

“They were able to provide specific fine-tuning and executive advice for each step of the proposed plans,” Tessa explained. This included social media support, internal and external communications support, and guidance for an effective brand rollout and storytelling.

With a comprehensive look at FACETS’ current and future strategies, the team walked away with a new point of view, excited to implement recommendations and tools the Corporate Communications team provided, said Katie Davenport, FACETS Chief of Staff.

“The FACETS team left there so refreshed and ready to use some of the tools that were shared,” she said. “I’m not only energized about the recommendations but also validated on some of the pain points we get hung up on as a small team.”

Robinette agreed, adding that the team’s outside perspective was “the most valuable aspect of this initiative.

“The team at Maximus was incredibly eager to delve into what we already had going on and offer changes to improve effectiveness,” Robinette said. “Working with Maximus thus far has been such a pleasure and we have already begun using a couple of their suggestions.”

This project is a collaborative effort between the team, partner organizations, and the Maximus Foundation, Curtis added. Each employee is encouraged to volunteer their time and leverage their expertise.

“In addition to giving their time, the team can provide insight, recommendations, and support to address the specific communications needs of these organizations,” he said. “Our hope is through this program, we can help empower these organizations to effectively convey their mission, amplify their impact, and encourage more support in the community.”

The Georgia Tech sustainability community and its partners gathered from March 4-8 for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Action and Awareness Week. The United Nations SDGs are 17 areas where progress is essential for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

SDG Action and Awareness Week is an initiative of the University Global Coalition, led by Georgia Tech President, Ángel Cabrera. Its purpose is to increase awareness, showcase the work universities are doing to address the SDGs, and encourage action.

Georgia Tech’s SDG Week was sponsored by the Georgia Tech Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS), the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business, and other campus partners. 

The Center is pleased to share highlights from panels in which affiliated faculty, students, staff, and partners shared expertise, insights, and opportunities for engagement.

Click here for the full story.

The Georgia Tech sustainability community and its partners gathered from March 4-8 for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Action and Awareness Week. The United Nations SDGs are 17 areas where progress is essential for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

SDG Action and Awareness Week is an initiative of the University Global Coalition, led by Georgia Tech President, Ángel Cabrera. Its purpose is to increase awareness, showcase the work universities are doing to address the SDGs, and encourage action.

Georgia Tech’s SDG Week was sponsored by the Georgia Tech Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS), the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business, and other campus partners. 

The Center is pleased to share highlights from panels in which affiliated faculty, students, staff, and partners shared expertise, insights, and opportunities for engagement.

Click here for the full story.