Eastman’s copolyester shines at Chicago’s housewares show

A year after introducing the company’s Tritan copolyester into the housewares market at the 2008 International Home & Housewares Show (IHHS), Eastman (Kingsport, TN) has customers introducing Tritan products at the 2009 show, taking place March 22-24 in Chicago. Three companies selected Tritan copolyester for new products on display, based on material attributes including clarity, dishwasher durability, and shatter resistance.

A new slow cold water extraction process that makes a raw coffee extract naturally low in bitter acids and unhealthy oils was introduced at the show by Hourglass Coffee (Portland, OR). The Cold Brew Coffee System doesn’t require electricity and is designed to be portable, so durability and shatter resistance were important factors during the material selection process. In addition to offering consumers a long-lasting, dishwasher-safe product, “The glasslike clarity and coloring opportunities also helped us design a high-quality aesthetic,” says Kim Kapp, director of marketing for Hourglass Coffee.

Another beverage innovation, the Polar Pitcher from Polar Plastech (Odessa, FL), uses an inner ice chamber to keep contents cold without diluting the beverage. “One of the main reasons we designed Polar Pitcher was to provide a sanitary way to keep beverages cool, so it was important that the material used to develop the pitcher maintained sanitation standards,” says Steve Roberts, president of Polar Plastech. “Additionally, the pitcher is often used in outdoor seating and pool areas, so it was important the pitchers were durable and shatter-resistant. Eastman Tritan copolyester provided all those attributes.”

Entrepreneurial firm Cox Culinary Emporium (Suwanee, GA) created clear, reusable serving products incorporating glasses that fit securely into plates to allow users to carry a plate and a drink while having one hand free. “We were looking for a material that was BPA-free, maintained clarity and integrity through continued dishwashing and use, and provided a quality aesthetic,” says Jim Cox, owner of CCE. Cox adds that Tritan offered all those properties, as well as design flexibility.

On Sunday, the opening day of IHHS, Eastman sponsored a panel and product showcase with these new customers, as well as customer partners who have developed Tritan products during the last year, including Thermos and Blackwell Plastics. “After launching Eastman Tritan copolyester into the housewares market at IHHS in 2008, we are proud to showcase this year innovative products that demonstrate the continued versatility and growing applications of Tritan in the housewares category,” says Fred Colhoun, market development manager of Eastman.

The company also announced in a release last Wednesday that Eastman’s Tritan copolyester has been included in the certified polymer list for the Japan Hygienic Olefin and Styrene Plastics Assn. (JHOSPA), which publishes voluntary standards for materials used in products such as food containers, packaging materials, and utensils. Deborah Baum Crain, director of copolyester innovation for Eastman, says, “We place high standards on our products, challenging them with rigorous reviews and testing, and we are proud to have JHOSPA recognize our continued commitment to product safety and quality.” —[email protected]