Plastics molder Ishikawajyushi has established a take-back program with Saizeriya, one of Japan's leading Italian restaurant chains, so its wine glasses, tumblers, beer cups, and decanters made with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester can be mechanically recycled and repurposed.
 |
|
Saizeriya drinkware made with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester |
Saizeriya, which sells affordable Italian food, has more than 1,000 restaurants and uses Tritan as a lightweight, shatter-resistant, and dishwasher-durable alternative to glass. Saizeriya returns its tableware to Ishikawa after two or three years, depending on its condition. The Tritan is recovered and turned back into pellets to make check holders for the restaurants.
"The durability of Tritan makes it the perfect material for repeat use," said Tsutomu Ishikawa, COO of Ishikawa. "Using recovered Tritan further reduces the use of resources and plastic waste. Saizeriya is a leader in the Japanese restaurant industry and is certainly leading on sustainability."
Tritan is durable, lightweight, BPA free, and can withstand industrial dishwashers.
"This is a unique program in the Asia Pacific region, and we're proud to be working with Ishikawa, a family-owned company that places a high value on quality," said Courtland Jenkins, commercial director of Specialty Plastics for Eastman. "They have a lot of faith in Tritan and currently use it in ARAS, their own brand of premium tableware."
Ishikawa is working on plans to recover Tritan plates and other products it makes for Saizeriya.
