How can Eastman Spectar™ copolyester support my sustainability efforts?

In today’s environmentally conscious business landscape, we understand that businesses and consumers alike are demanding improved sustainability efforts from the entire supply chain.

By specifying Eastman Spectar™ copolyester, you can help decrease your environmental footprint in several ways.

  • Biological benefits—Spectar does not contain halogens, sulfur, lead, mercury, cadmium, or hexavalent chromium. And it’s not manufactured using bisphenol A (BPA). Spectar has earned GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® recognition as a low-emitting product and is Cradle to Cradle® Certified at the Silver level by the C2C Institute.

  • Processing advantages—Spectar also offers sustainable processing advantages. For example, its durability allows roughly 20% downgauging of the material, which reduces plastic use. During the extrusion process, Spectar uses less energy (per kilogram) than acrylic. Spectar’s flexibility also allows designers to create intricate shapes, especially when the material is thermoformed, which can result in energy savings of up to 20% compared to acrylic and polycarbonate.
                     
  • Less waste—The impact resistance of Spectar (53 ft-lb) is about 18 times that of general-purpose acrylic (PMMA) (3 ft-lb) and about twice that of impact-modified acrylic (PMMA) (26 ft-lb). This strength translates to less waste in manufacturing and in the market, longer life, and lower replacement costs.
Spectar Sustainability
  • LEED certification—As further evidence of this polymer’s sustainable characteristics, many of our extrusion partners offer sheet made from Spectar that can contribute points toward LEED® 2 certified building projects in the following ways:
    • Low-emitting materials/IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) compliant products (LEED EQ 4.1)
    • Regional materials (LEED MR 5.1)
    • Daylight and views (LEED EQ 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3)

For additional tips, download our Fabrication Guide.