Transforming plastic waste into energy-saving insulation
By recycling PET bottles, Huntsman is reducing plastic waste and saving energy.
We do not produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, but we clearly recognize the impact plastic waste has on the environment and are doing something about it.
Huntsman’s proprietary trans-esterification process enables the use of severely distressed PET scrap that otherwise would have been destined for landfills or found its way into our oceans. We not only recycle low-quality PET scrap, but then transform it into energy-saving polyurethane insulation – the most effective insulants available in the market, as measured by R-value.
While any form of PET will suffice, since 2014 Huntsman has used the equivalent of five billion 500ml PET bottles to manufacture 290 million lbs. of TEROL® polyester polyols in Houston, Texas.
These polyols are a critical ingredient in the production of MDI-based polyurethane insulation products, which provide significant energy savings in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. They are a key building block for polyisocyanurate (PIR) boardstock systems and spray polyurethane foam (SPF), as well as pour-in-place applications, such as picnic coolers, entry doors, garage doors, refrigerators and freezers. These energy-saving polyurethane insulations benefit society by reducing the costs of heating and cooling homes and commercial buildings and prolonging the shelf life of perishable foods.
Our TEROL® polyols contain up to 60% recycled waste.
While all Huntsman’s TEROL® polyols contain recycled content, five of our TEROL® polyols have been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Environment. In 2014, we became the first U.S. polyester polyol manufacturer to receive the designation. UL verified Huntsman’s pre-consumer recycled, post-consumer recycled and renewable resource content claims by reviewing our manufacturing practices and raw materials sources.
We’re rising to meet the plastic waste challenge.
In 2018, Huntsman acquired Demilec, a leading North American SPF insulation manufacturer and distributor for residential and commercial applications. A consumer of TEROL® polyester polyols, Demilec produces a full suite of closed- and open-cell MDI-based SPF formulations, and focuses on bio-preferred, renewable and recyclable products that reduce energy consumption through highly efficient insulation properties.
In 2020, our polyols production facility in Kuan Yin, Taiwan, will begin to utilize Huntsman’s well-proven TEROL® polyols technology to recycle distressed PET streams to satisfy the growing demand from the regional PIR foam insulation market.
Additional Information
Email: PETrecycling@huntsman.com
Download Brochure: JEFFOL and TEROL Specialty Polyols